tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14093492993418388732017-12-20T03:56:51.419-08:00Melusina MermaidMelusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-12616593523477522332012-11-12T12:40:00.000-08:002012-11-12T12:41:31.603-08:00How Novel! My Novel!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><u><i>This is how ridiculously giddy, when one wakes to find one's novel for sale on Amazon.com, one looks.</i></u></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><u><i>Especially when the whole ordeal was supposed to take nearly a week of torturous waiting.</i></u></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><u><i>Phew!</i></u></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><u><i>Victory sequins.</i></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUu4jAo0ocE/UJ8WMBBNHII/AAAAAAAABQE/B3rIi0Ard8o/s1600/glitter-sequins-brooch-80s-vintage-retro-sweater-sequin+sweater-beaded-gold-black-olivia-olivia+fortune-oliviafortune.blogspot.com-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUu4jAo0ocE/UJ8WMBBNHII/AAAAAAAABQE/B3rIi0Ard8o/s320/glitter-sequins-brooch-80s-vintage-retro-sweater-sequin+sweater-beaded-gold-black-olivia-olivia+fortune-oliviafortune.blogspot.com-2.jpg" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh my.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Fortune humor (which is, sadly, both heredity &amp; just plain sad), strikes again!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In reference to my own blog title.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Which, sadly, as well...I found too amusing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, at least I amuse myself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If no one else appreciates your humor, at least you should!&nbsp; ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That is the way I see it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'm rambling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Imagine that.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dun, dun, dun...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Drumrool, ahem, silly typos making me sound Scottish...drumroll!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many 'eeks' &amp; much screaming, weeping, &amp; Snoopy dances will now ensue.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;">And, thus, the links for you to go buy all my books.&nbsp; ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Support the starving artist!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Save the whales!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/3653419" target="_blank">"Long Live the Knife" a novel by Olivia Fortune; Paperback</a></div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="510" src="https://www.createspace.com/3653419" width="100%">your browser does not support IFRAMEs</iframe> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The page above says 'CreateSpace', but this is basically another name for Amazon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have an 'actual' Amazon link as well, but if you'd like to be reeaally kind, when you buy via 'CreateSpace', the author actually receives much more in royalties from their book, despite the paperback copies having the exact same price. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And the link to my ebook!<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Long-Live-the-Knife-ebook/dp/B00A3N3I80/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1352604982&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=long+live+the+knife+olivia+fortune" target="_blank">"Long Live the Knife" a novel by Olivia Fortune; for Kindle &amp; Kindle App</a></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.amazon.com/Long-Live-the-Knife-ebook/dp/B00A3N3I80/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1352604982&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=long+live+the+knife+olivia+fortune" width="100%">your browser does not support IFRAMEs</iframe>The nice thing about the Amazon Kindle, is that you don't need a Kindle to download &amp; read ebooks.<br /><br />They have an app you can install on your computer or any other device with internet access for free!<br /><br />Isn't that nifty &amp; nice? <br /><br /><a href="https://read.amazon.com/" target="_blank">Kindle Cloud Reader FREE</a><br /><br />&nbsp; So!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Curl up with a good book (hopefully mine?) &amp; enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;">P.S.</div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: cyan;">(They make delightfully dark &amp; strange, Christmas gifts!)</div><div style="color: cyan;"><br /></div><div style="color: cyan;">Please, do come visit my other blog for my Gothic novel &amp; all the bits &amp; bobs going on in my life!</div><div style="color: cyan;">I'd be delighted to see you there &amp; hear all about your own life!</div><div style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://oliviafortune.blogspot.com/">Olivia Fortune's Blog</a>&nbsp;</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6poFW-KMcFk/UJ8f9beNaRI/AAAAAAAABQw/rsr7mSytkHc/s1600/Long+Live+the+Knife+BookCover5x8_Cream_310+number+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6poFW-KMcFk/UJ8f9beNaRI/AAAAAAAABQw/rsr7mSytkHc/s320/Long+Live+the+Knife+BookCover5x8_Cream_310+number+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What are your favorite books?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGVyEpUo3Lc/UJ8gNjQqskI/AAAAAAAABQ4/gajZ2tnrcJ8/s1600/glitter-sequins-brooch-80s-vintage-retro-sweater-sequin+sweater-beaded-gold-black-olivia-olivia+fortune-oliviafortune.blogspot.com-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGVyEpUo3Lc/UJ8gNjQqskI/AAAAAAAABQ4/gajZ2tnrcJ8/s320/glitter-sequins-brooch-80s-vintage-retro-sweater-sequin+sweater-beaded-gold-black-olivia-olivia+fortune-oliviafortune.blogspot.com-3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="color: blue;">&nbsp;<span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large;">~Good Night, Good Night!~</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvQC1NI-Z30/UJ8gw5QrfII/AAAAAAAABRE/BVKNlFUZylE/s1600/olivia+fortune-oliviafortune.blogspot.com-sparkle-sparkles-vintage+hat-blue-white-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvQC1NI-Z30/UJ8gw5QrfII/AAAAAAAABRE/BVKNlFUZylE/s320/olivia+fortune-oliviafortune.blogspot.com-sparkle-sparkles-vintage+hat-blue-white-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/PHFVtAdFygw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com1http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-novel-my-novel.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-33816142041806553952012-11-11T23:36:00.000-08:002012-11-11T23:36:27.005-08:00The Mermaids of Benes Knüpfer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Benes Knüpfer (1848 - 1910) was a <span class="underhead">Czechoslovakian</span> painter, who, despite his glorious paintings of mermaids &amp; mermen frolicking in the surf, seems to be rather widely unknown.&nbsp; Sadly, I can find little else to tell about the man's life, other than to tell you, observe the paintings &amp; you will discover more.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The way that he paints water is exquisite.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Perhaps, I will have to go hunt him down in a library...in an art book?&nbsp; The images of his paintings I have managed to find are often quite small, paltry offerings.&nbsp; Yet, even in miniature, they are beautiful.&nbsp; So take a look, where you will.&nbsp; Enjoy!&nbsp; I hope we can make Benes Knüpfer well known!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="underhead2">Duel of the Tritons; </span>Benes Knüpfer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWNGWNvLLYw/UKCd16ZdhUI/AAAAAAAABRw/Lc0IW-3-EUw/s1600/benes+knupfer-Benes+Benesch+Kn%C3%BCpfer-Czech-+1848-1910-Duel+of+the+Tritons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWNGWNvLLYw/UKCd16ZdhUI/AAAAAAAABRw/Lc0IW-3-EUw/s320/benes+knupfer-Benes+Benesch+Kn%C3%BCpfer-Czech-+1848-1910-Duel+of+the+Tritons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="underhead2">The Kiss; </span>Benes Knüpfer</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XXFWmQ5MlOY/UKCegnx8bSI/AAAAAAAABR4/blNGy9O51Bk/s1600/benes+knupfer-kiss-mermaid-merman-water-waves-ocean-sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XXFWmQ5MlOY/UKCegnx8bSI/AAAAAAAABR4/blNGy9O51Bk/s1600/benes+knupfer-kiss-mermaid-merman-water-waves-ocean-sea.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itsitbHm154/UKCfS8046MI/AAAAAAAABSA/0-PAEAWOs-A/s1600/Benes-Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-Triton-und-die-Najaden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itsitbHm154/UKCfS8046MI/AAAAAAAABSA/0-PAEAWOs-A/s320/Benes-Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-Triton-und-die-Najaden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ex5pUHeock/UKCf-de0P2I/AAAAAAAABSI/U3huavLTVzo/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaids-waves-ocean-sea-siren-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ex5pUHeock/UKCf-de0P2I/AAAAAAAABSI/U3huavLTVzo/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaids-waves-ocean-sea-siren-water.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="underhead2">Siren; </span>Benes Knüpfer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOW2jns0Qfk/UKCgSl0uoiI/AAAAAAAABSQ/U1LBGx_7ZGM/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-waves-ocean-sea-water-storm-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOW2jns0Qfk/UKCgSl0uoiI/AAAAAAAABSQ/U1LBGx_7ZGM/s320/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-waves-ocean-sea-water-storm-rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fu4b4hoEVMg/UKCg3aVCWuI/AAAAAAAABSY/BJtvQmmGnGM/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-undine-nymph-angel-cupid-waves-ocean-sea-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fu4b4hoEVMg/UKCg3aVCWuI/AAAAAAAABSY/BJtvQmmGnGM/s320/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-undine-nymph-angel-cupid-waves-ocean-sea-water.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRYsbQr5Cj0/UKChnZ9gxuI/AAAAAAAABSg/N-PrwD2lIdM/s1600/Bene%C5%A1+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-siren-mermaid-nymph-undine-sea+gulls-ocean-sea-waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRYsbQr5Cj0/UKChnZ9gxuI/AAAAAAAABSg/N-PrwD2lIdM/s1600/Bene%C5%A1+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-siren-mermaid-nymph-undine-sea+gulls-ocean-sea-waves.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0BlYUHUblc/UKCh8OHOcPI/AAAAAAAABSo/cAQccrernuA/s1600/Benes+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-mermaids-siren-undine-nymph-fish-dolphins-ocean-sea-water-waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0BlYUHUblc/UKCh8OHOcPI/AAAAAAAABSo/cAQccrernuA/s320/Benes+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-mermaids-siren-undine-nymph-fish-dolphins-ocean-sea-water-waves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeqYhc60oyg/UKCiNruhNwI/AAAAAAAABSw/Aoe1_EYYijY/s1600/Benes+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-mermaids-siren-undine-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeqYhc60oyg/UKCiNruhNwI/AAAAAAAABSw/Aoe1_EYYijY/s320/Benes+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-mermaids-siren-undine-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aro_TT-8XEc/UKCi3Ezf2UI/AAAAAAAABS4/KsLM-3icGOI/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-undine-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aro_TT-8XEc/UKCi3Ezf2UI/AAAAAAAABS4/KsLM-3icGOI/s320/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-undine-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yyW2VgXWx7c/UKCjMVN4nUI/AAAAAAAABTA/03koRq33grI/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-undine-nymph-merman-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yyW2VgXWx7c/UKCjMVN4nUI/AAAAAAAABTA/03koRq33grI/s320/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-undine-nymph-merman-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OGdTN5Brfro/UKCjf2IkyOI/AAAAAAAABTI/MVhZlIew8yg/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-nymph-undine-sprite-siren-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks-shore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OGdTN5Brfro/UKCjf2IkyOI/AAAAAAAABTI/MVhZlIew8yg/s320/benes+knupfer-mermaid-nymph-undine-sprite-siren-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks-shore.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wVu2rYQllQ/UKCj0CotuJI/AAAAAAAABTQ/8xkOjdDOzLc/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-nymph-sprite-undine-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wVu2rYQllQ/UKCj0CotuJI/AAAAAAAABTQ/8xkOjdDOzLc/s1600/benes+knupfer-mermaid-siren-nymph-sprite-undine-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Detail of Revenge of the Centaurs; Benes Knüpfer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKHHqGZJyCs/UKCkdmFb0yI/AAAAAAAABTY/8xAMLSdGxR4/s1600/Benes+Knupfer,-Detail+of-Revenge+of+the+Centaurs-1890s-mermaids-sirens-undine-sprite-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKHHqGZJyCs/UKCkdmFb0yI/AAAAAAAABTY/8xAMLSdGxR4/s320/Benes+Knupfer,-Detail+of-Revenge+of+the+Centaurs-1890s-mermaids-sirens-undine-sprite-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-fish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A Sirene's Song; Benes Knüpfer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVfIla_axY8/UKClS-V4oGI/AAAAAAAABTg/qf2egKMHptQ/s1600/Benes+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-A+sirene%27s+song-mermaid-siren-nymph-undine-sprite-ocean-sea-water-waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVfIla_axY8/UKClS-V4oGI/AAAAAAAABTg/qf2egKMHptQ/s320/Benes+Kn%C3%BCpfer-benes+knupfer-A+sirene%27s+song-mermaid-siren-nymph-undine-sprite-ocean-sea-water-waves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Game of the Waves; Benes Knüpfer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CXB4Spwh1iU/UKClsQdfM1I/AAAAAAAABTo/iVSqXf194wo/s1600/benes+knupfer-game+of+the+waves-mermaids-siren-nymph-sprite-undine-ocean-sea-water-waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CXB4Spwh1iU/UKClsQdfM1I/AAAAAAAABTo/iVSqXf194wo/s320/benes+knupfer-game+of+the+waves-mermaids-siren-nymph-sprite-undine-ocean-sea-water-waves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sea Nymph; Benes Knüpfer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQOLOGNUbL4/UKCl98RvfHI/AAAAAAAABTw/KJf4jD1saiA/s1600/benes+knupfer-sea+nymph-mermaid-siren-undine-sprite-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQOLOGNUbL4/UKCl98RvfHI/AAAAAAAABTw/KJf4jD1saiA/s320/benes+knupfer-sea+nymph-mermaid-siren-undine-sprite-nymph-ocean-sea-water-waves-rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span class="underhead2"> </span><span class="underhead2"></span><br /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/c0SYpLZvDUk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-mermaids-of-benes-knupfer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-13220859524388966712012-03-26T21:38:00.000-07:002012-03-26T21:38:12.389-07:00Katy Perry As A Little Mermaid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I tend to ignore pop culture...almost entirely...unless it was the pop culture of 40 to 50 years ago...or more.&nbsp; I'm a horse with blinders.&nbsp; So, while&nbsp; I might be constantly bombarded with the music of Katy Perry, via restaurants or department stores or my siblings &amp; their questionable music choices, I've never taken much notice.&nbsp; Till now.&nbsp; Obviously. &nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “It’s as if Lisa Frank had done <em>The Little Mermaid</em>,” described Katy.&nbsp; Which could not be more true!&nbsp; Her photo shoot with David LaChapelle for GHD is marvelous, in an under the sea way.&nbsp; I've been salivating over her costume like a baby who's teething.&nbsp; ;)&nbsp; It's gorgeous!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia70JC2Ur-s/T3FAGV7zuTI/AAAAAAAAAiE/BNiW-yLCCFs/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia70JC2Ur-s/T3FAGV7zuTI/AAAAAAAAAiE/BNiW-yLCCFs/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqHnZsRhjKU/T3FAMy2OpmI/AAAAAAAAAiM/USDvOfsM4D0/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqHnZsRhjKU/T3FAMy2OpmI/AAAAAAAAAiM/USDvOfsM4D0/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-2.jpg" width="320" /></a>&nbsp; </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzQ8SpooU_k/T3FAOYwPekI/AAAAAAAAAiU/nMnQviSoRhk/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzQ8SpooU_k/T3FAOYwPekI/AAAAAAAAAiU/nMnQviSoRhk/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckwFTOEjLpg/T3FAQEtdwKI/AAAAAAAAAic/UsqVlp2xNig/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckwFTOEjLpg/T3FAQEtdwKI/AAAAAAAAAic/UsqVlp2xNig/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-25fAOmvnMrw/T3FARRY418I/AAAAAAAAAik/9PeuKff6YFA/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-25fAOmvnMrw/T3FARRY418I/AAAAAAAAAik/9PeuKff6YFA/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDwrar9yywI/T3FASO4LEtI/AAAAAAAAAis/p4utC_Jn66g/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDwrar9yywI/T3FASO4LEtI/AAAAAAAAAis/p4utC_Jn66g/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Don't ask me who the guy with the scary hair is...he could use some mermaid hair care.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fxbf3ycp8Ls/T3FATeM_H_I/AAAAAAAAAi0/QqhruyH89nI/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fxbf3ycp8Ls/T3FATeM_H_I/AAAAAAAAAi0/QqhruyH89nI/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZgxvZMtl00/T3FAUWbqkbI/AAAAAAAAAi8/1IKwXdP1TC8/s1600/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZgxvZMtl00/T3FAUWbqkbI/AAAAAAAAAi8/1IKwXdP1TC8/s320/katy+perry-mermaid-ghd-david+lachapelle-2012-8.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/Sqz5gYZLLBg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com2http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/03/katy-perry-as-little-mermaid.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-10514844287428022632012-02-21T21:38:00.000-08:002012-02-21T21:38:46.298-08:00"Scandinavian Ballad Stories: Agnes & the Merman", Adam Oehlenschläger; "Agneta & the Sea King", John Bauer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>&nbsp;</i><span style="font-size: small;">Illustrations from the book, <i>Swedish Folk Tales</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">(The poem &amp; the illustrations are not from the same book)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Agneta &amp; the Sea King</i>, illustrated by John Bauer</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBrintuIuUM/T0R7T5X1TFI/AAAAAAAAAhc/MSGD1H_JCyQ/s1600/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBrintuIuUM/T0R7T5X1TFI/AAAAAAAAAhc/MSGD1H_JCyQ/s320/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coronation of the Sea Queen</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Now you shall be my queen &amp; stay with me forever."</i> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><em></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4JtDPVyvv8/T0R77-ZTrMI/AAAAAAAAAhk/uKuTeE_3Wu0/s1600/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen-+coronation+of+the+sea+queen-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4JtDPVyvv8/T0R77-ZTrMI/AAAAAAAAAhk/uKuTeE_3Wu0/s320/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen-+coronation+of+the+sea+queen-2.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6mXn037F7s/T0R8PsFM68I/AAAAAAAAAhs/q7QADVll7pE/s1600/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6mXn037F7s/T0R8PsFM68I/AAAAAAAAAhs/q7QADVll7pE/s320/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Agneta, look at me,” he pleaded.</i><br /><i>But she did not raise her face. She kneeled on the spot as still as a statue.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pc4bxc7QAtI/T0R8RM4W7fI/AAAAAAAAAh0/8DW3ADUQGP4/s1600/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pc4bxc7QAtI/T0R8RM4W7fI/AAAAAAAAAh0/8DW3ADUQGP4/s320/swedish+folk+tales-illustrated-john+bauer-agneta+and+the+sea+king-merman-mermen-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>&nbsp;Scandinavian Ballad Stories</i>, by Robert Buchanan</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>Agnes</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adam Oehlenschläger</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">MAID AGNES musing sat alone</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Upon the lonely strand;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The breaking waves sighed oft and low</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Upon the white sea-sand.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">Watching the thin white foam, that broke</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">Upon the wave, sat she,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">When up a beauteous merman rose</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">From the bottom of the sea.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">And he was clad unto the waist</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">With scales like silver white,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">And on his breast the setting sun</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">Put rose gleams of light.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">The merman’s spear a boat-mast was,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">With crook of coral brown,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">His shield was made of turtle-shell,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">Of mussel-shells his crown.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">His hair upon his shoulders fell,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: small;">Of bright and glittering tang;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">And sweeter than the nightingale’s</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">Sounded the song he sang.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">“And tell to me, sweet merman,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">Fresh from the deep, deep sea,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">When will a tender husband come</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">To woo and marry me?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">“O hearken, sweetest Agnes,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">To the words I say to thee—</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: small;">All for the sake of my true heart,</span><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let me thy husband be.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Far underneath the deep, deep sea,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;I reign in palace halls,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;And all around, of crystal clear,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Uprise the wondrous walls.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;“And seven hundred handmaids wait,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;To serve my slightest wish—</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Above the waist like milk-white maids,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Below the waist, like fish.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;“Like mother-of-pearl the sea-sledge gleams,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Wherein I journey crowned,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Along the sweet green path it goes,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Dragged by the great seal-hound.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;“And all along the green, green deeps</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Grow flowers wondrous fair;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;They drink the wave, and grow as tall</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;As those that breathe the air.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;Fair Agnes smiled, and stretched her arms,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;And leapt into the sea,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;And down beneath the tall sea-plants</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;He led her tenderlie.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">II.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Eight happy years fair Agnes dwelt</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Under the green-sea wave,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And seven beauteous little ones</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She to the merman gave.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">She sat beneath the tall sea-plants,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Upon a throne of shells,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And from the far-off land she heard</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The sound of sweet kirk bells.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unto her gentle lord she stept,</span></div><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;And softly took his hand:</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">“And may I once, and only once,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Go say my prayers on land?”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">“Then hearken, sweet wife Agnes,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To the words I say to thee—</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Fail not in twenty hours and four</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To hasten home to me.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">A thousand times “Good night” she said</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unto her children small,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And ere she went away she stooped,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And softly kissed them all;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And, old and young, the children wept</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Agnes went away,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And loud as any cried the babe</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Who in the cradle lay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Now Agnes sees the sun again,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And steps upon the strand—</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">She trembles at the light, and hides</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her eyes with her white hand.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Among the folk she used to know,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;As they walk to kirk, steps she,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">“We know thee not, thou woman wild,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Come from a far countrie.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The kirk bells chime, and into kirk</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And up the aisle she flies;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The images upon the walls</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Are turning away their eyes!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The silver chalice to her lips</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She lifteth tremblinglie,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">For that her lips were all athirst,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Under the deep, deep sea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">She tried to pray, and could not pray,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;And still the kirk bells sound;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">She spills the cup of holy wine</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Upon the cold, cold ground.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">When smoke and mist rose from the sea,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And it was dark on land,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">She drew her robe about her face,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And stood upon the strand.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Then folded she her thin, thin hands,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;The merman’s weary wife:</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">“Heaven help me in my wickedness,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And take away my life!”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">She sank among the meadow grass,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As white and cold as snow;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The roses growing round about</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Turned white and cold alsò.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The small birds sang upon the bough,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And their song was sad and deep—</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">“Now, Agnes, it is gloaming hour,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And thou art going to sleep.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">All in the twilight, when the sun</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sank down behind the main,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Her hands were pressed upon her heart,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And her heart had broke in twain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The waves creep up across the strand,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sighing so mournfullie,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And tenderly they wash the corse</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To the bottom of the sea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Three days she stayed beneath the sea,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then came back again,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And mournfully, so mournfully,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Upon the sand was lain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And, sweetly decked by tender hands,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She lay a-sleeping there,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And all her form is wreathed with weeds,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And a flower was in her hair.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The little herd-boy drove his geese</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Seaward at peep o’ day,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And there, her hands upon her breast,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sweet Agnes sleeping lay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">He dug a grave behind a stone,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All in the soft sea-sand,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">And there the maiden’s bones are dry,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Though the waves creep up the strand.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Each morning and each evening,</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The stone is wet above;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The merman hath wept (the town girls say)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Over his lost true-love.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can read<i> <a href="http://www.goblinfruit.net/2010/spring/poems/?poem=seakingsecondbride">The Sea King's Second Bride</a></i>, by CSE Cooney, if you find yourself so inclined.&nbsp; It's a continuation of the merman's story, though not by the original author.&nbsp; While charming, I don't find it quite as beautiful.</div><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/ghREIjpGkQs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com2http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/02/scandinavian-ballad-stories-agnes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-25748210250605148712012-02-20T12:14:00.000-08:002012-02-20T12:14:58.187-08:00"Scandinavian Ballad Stories: The Sunken City", F L Hoedt , by Robert Buchanan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">From the book, <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Little Mermaids and Ugly Ducklings</span></span></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hans Christian Andersen's, <i>The Little Mermaid</i>; illustrator, Gennady Spirin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTKSFsfP4IY/T0IAalhYqhI/AAAAAAAAAhU/tGYH0E6ELHw/s1600/gennady+spirin-the+little+mermaid-hans+christian+andersen-little+mermaids+%2526+ugly+ducklings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTKSFsfP4IY/T0IAalhYqhI/AAAAAAAAAhU/tGYH0E6ELHw/s320/gennady+spirin-the+little+mermaid-hans+christian+andersen-little+mermaids+%2526+ugly+ducklings.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Scandinavian Ballad Stories</i>, by Robert Buchanan</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Sunken City</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,Times NewRoman;">F L Hoedt</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times,Times NewRoman;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Where the sea is smiling<br />So blue and cold<br />There stood a city<br />In days of old;<br />But the black earth opened<br />To make a grave,<br />And the city slumbers<br />Beneath the wave.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Where life and beauty<br />Dwelt long ago,<br />The oozy rushes<br />And seaweeds grow;<br />And no one sees,<br />And no one hears,<br />And none remember<br />The far-off years.<br /><br />But go there, lonely,<br />At eventide,<br />And hearken, hearken<br />To the lisping tide;<br />And faint sweet music<br />Will float to thee,<br />Like church bells chiming<br />Across the sea.<br /><br />It is the olden,<br />The sunken town,<br />Which faintly murmurs<br />Far fathoms down;<br />Like the sea-winds breathing<br />It murmurs by,<br />And the sweet notes tremble,<br />And sink, and die.<br /><br />Where now is moorland,<br />All dark and dry,<br />Where fog and night-mist<br />For ever lie,<br />Of old there blossomed,<br />Divinely free,<br />A flowery kingdom<br />Of Poesy.<br /><br />A wondrous region<br />Of visions proud,<br />’Neath bright blue heaven<br />And white dream-cloud!<br />With scent of roses,<br />And song of birds,<br />And gentle zephyrs<br />Of loving words.<br /><br />Each thing of beauty<br />The old earth bore,<br />Each tone, each odour,<br />(Alas! no more!)<br />By Art and Music<br />Were hither brought,<br />And grew eternal<br />In divinest thought.<br /><br />Here lies the moorland,<br />All dark and dry,<br />Here fogs and night-mist<br />For ever lie;<br />And no one sees,<br />And no one hears,<br />And few remember<br />These far-off years.<br /><br />But if thou hast not<br />In sin and strife<br />Forgot already<br />Thy childish life,<br />If things that harden<br />The human heart<br />Have not yet murdered<br />Thy nobler part—<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then on that moorland,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the summer dark,<br />While the wind sighs past thee,<br />Stand still and hark, </div><div style="text-align: center;">And a faint sweet music<br />Will float to thee,<br />Like church bells chiming<br />Across the sea.<br /><br />It is the world<br />That once hath been,<br />Which sadly chimeth,<br />Itself unseen;<br />Like the sea-winds breathing,<br />The tones creep by—<br />They faint, they tremble,<br />And sweetly die !<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Read the rest of Robert Buchanan's, <i><a href="http://www.robertbuchanan.co.uk/html/scandinavian.html">Scandinavian Ballad Stories</a>.</i> </div></div></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/NiYagQ6ZkDs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/02/scandinavian-ballad-stories-sunken-city.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-24599511132809340892012-02-18T23:57:00.000-08:002012-02-18T23:57:16.489-08:00Arnold Böcklin, Mermaids & Mermen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Calm Sea; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_G_huc2Zwiw/T0CjNCW7stI/AAAAAAAAAhM/HovVoVhDE3s/s1600/calm+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_G_huc2Zwiw/T0CjNCW7stI/AAAAAAAAAhM/HovVoVhDE3s/s320/calm+sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />&nbsp;Arnold Böcklin (October 16, 1827&nbsp;– January 16, 1901) was a Swiss, symbolist painter.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to wikipedia he was: Influenced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism" title="Romanticism">Romanticism</a> his painting is <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolist" title="Symbolist">symbolist</a> with mythological subjects often overlapping with the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Raphaelites" title="Pre-Raphaelites">Pre-Raphaelites</a>. His pictures portray mythological, fantastical figures along classical architecture constructions (often revealing an obsession with death) creating a strange, fantasy world.<br />Böcklin is best known for his five versions of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_the_Dead_%28painting%29" title="Isle of the Dead (painting)">Isle of the Dead</a></i>, which partly evokes the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Cemetery,_Florence" title="English Cemetery, Florence">English Cemetery, Florence</a>, close to his studio and where his baby daughter Maria had been buried.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If memory serves me correctly, there was also a very harrowing, creepy Boris Karloff movie inspired by Böcklin's <i>Isle of the Dead</i> paintings.&nbsp; However, I have here Böcklin's mermaids &amp; his mermen.&nbsp; Very strange creatures indeed.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; The Island of Life, 1888; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mawkTjCDQgQ/T0CjJ-3tF9I/AAAAAAAAAgs/-W5LA1FekEM/s1600/arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-Die-Lebensinsel-the+island+of+life-1888.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mawkTjCDQgQ/T0CjJ-3tF9I/AAAAAAAAAgs/-W5LA1FekEM/s320/arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-Die-Lebensinsel-the+island+of+life-1888.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the Sea, 1883; Arnold&nbsp; Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3bsH_TbG0ZY/T0CjMopLE4I/AAAAAAAAAhE/DX7r8pY97J4/s1600/arnold-bocklin-in+the+sea-1883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3bsH_TbG0ZY/T0CjMopLE4I/AAAAAAAAAhE/DX7r8pY97J4/s320/arnold-bocklin-in+the+sea-1883.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Play in the Waves; Arnold&nbsp; Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYoPEwR0Fe0/T0CjL459wVI/AAAAAAAAAg8/a67fXefzDxI/s1600/arnold-bocklin-Im+Spiel+der+Wellen-at+play+in+the+waves-mermaid-merman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYoPEwR0Fe0/T0CjL459wVI/AAAAAAAAAg8/a67fXefzDxI/s320/arnold-bocklin-Im+Spiel+der+Wellen-at+play+in+the+waves-mermaid-merman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mermaids at Play, 1886; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQFHJ02-uY4/T0Ci0k09UFI/AAAAAAAAAgE/fmz8ZjECvYo/s1600/Arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-mermaids+at+play-1886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQFHJ02-uY4/T0Ci0k09UFI/AAAAAAAAAgE/fmz8ZjECvYo/s320/Arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-mermaids+at+play-1886.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Triton Family, 1888; Arnold&nbsp; Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvNZKnC1hR4/T0CivzFMdNI/AAAAAAAAAfs/uXEc544NBhY/s1600/1888-ARNOLD+B%25C3%2596CKLIN-THE+TRITON+FAMILY-merman-mermaid-merbaby-sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvNZKnC1hR4/T0CivzFMdNI/AAAAAAAAAfs/uXEc544NBhY/s320/1888-ARNOLD+B%25C3%2596CKLIN-THE+TRITON+FAMILY-merman-mermaid-merbaby-sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sea Idyll, 1887; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--WQmA2SnmCI/T0Ci1ziQ2zI/AAAAAAAAAgM/uKN_gs9331E/s1600/Arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-sea+idyll-1887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--WQmA2SnmCI/T0Ci1ziQ2zI/AAAAAAAAAgM/uKN_gs9331E/s320/Arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-sea+idyll-1887.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Triton &amp; a Nereid, 1875; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hIl89PyCx_s/T0CjKxaMZxI/AAAAAAAAAg0/GSj4vcvuVKU/s1600/arnold+bocklin+Triton-And-Nereid%252C-1875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hIl89PyCx_s/T0CjKxaMZxI/AAAAAAAAAg0/GSj4vcvuVKU/s320/arnold+bocklin+Triton-And-Nereid%252C-1875.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Idyll of the Sea; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u681jFypMIU/T0CizhkH7yI/AAAAAAAAAf8/ta-vf4nKgfw/s1600/Arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-idyll+of+the+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u681jFypMIU/T0CizhkH7yI/AAAAAAAAAf8/ta-vf4nKgfw/s320/Arnold+B%25C3%25B6cklin-idyll+of+the+sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Triton &amp; Nereid, 1875; Arnold Böcklin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQa4QGCLBDI/T0CjBdRP06I/AAAAAAAAAgk/oMxM6QYG-hQ/s1600/Triton+and+Nereid-Arnold+Bocklin-1875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQa4QGCLBDI/T0CjBdRP06I/AAAAAAAAAgk/oMxM6QYG-hQ/s320/Triton+and+Nereid-Arnold+Bocklin-1875.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Venus Anadyomene, Venus Rising from the Sea, 1872; Arnold Böcklin<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zrDxZvIDMhA/T0Ci_X1zA1I/AAAAAAAAAgc/TWH6QIo1s4Y/s1600/Arnold_B%25C3%25B6cklin-Venus-Anadyomene-venus+rising+from+the+sea-1872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zrDxZvIDMhA/T0Ci_X1zA1I/AAAAAAAAAgc/TWH6QIo1s4Y/s320/Arnold_B%25C3%25B6cklin-Venus-Anadyomene-venus+rising+from+the+sea-1872.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Venus Anadyomene, Venus Rising from the Sea, 1872; Arnold Böcklin<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZFgorOqduU/T0Ci8GmqOzI/AAAAAAAAAgU/5DYr38JH31k/s1600/Arnold-B%25C3%25B6cklin-Venus-Anadyomene-venus+rising+from+the+sea-1872.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZFgorOqduU/T0Ci8GmqOzI/AAAAAAAAAgU/5DYr38JH31k/s320/Arnold-B%25C3%25B6cklin-Venus-Anadyomene-venus+rising+from+the+sea-1872.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><i style="color: black;"></i><br /><i style="color: black;"></i></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/_P1oO-6N95Q" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/02/arnold-bocklin-mermaids-mermen.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-75729175359822745292012-02-18T22:44:00.000-08:002012-02-18T22:44:54.691-08:00Sedna, Inuit Goddess of the Sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wwKX0feyAVE?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<i>Sedna</i>, a song with the low boom of the didgeridoo from Heather Dale's beautiful album, <i>The Road to Santiago</i></div><br />Can you imagine a mermaid swimming about in a great, fur coat?&nbsp; Sealskin or Polar Bear, perhaps?&nbsp; That is Sedna.&nbsp; Inuit Goddess of the Sea.&nbsp; Black haired beauty.&nbsp; When Sedna is angered, men are sent out in canoes to wash &amp; comb her long hair, for Sedna has no fingers &amp; the sea creatures will become tangled in its knots.&nbsp; When trapped in her hair, fish will not reach man &amp; when the fish do not reach the land, there is no food for the people of the frozen waste.&nbsp; Sedna, Satsuma Arnaa, <i>Mother of the Deep.</i> <br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Though many legends &amp; variations upon her legend exist, Sedna always meets with tragedy &amp; disaster.&nbsp; Her father chops off her fingers with the blade of his axe.&nbsp; She floats to the bottom of the sea, no longer able to hold onto the edge of the canoe.&nbsp; Her fingers, &amp; the blood from them, become the lifeblood of sea creatures.&nbsp; Of seals &amp; sea lions &amp; walruses &amp; fishes &amp; otters &amp; whales. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Lure of the North; Arthur Wardle </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVjKk7rYG3M/TwkbG8q831I/AAAAAAAAAcU/TbNfjx6VCro/s1600/Wardle_Arthur_The_Lure_Of_The_North.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVjKk7rYG3M/TwkbG8q831I/AAAAAAAAAcU/TbNfjx6VCro/s320/Wardle_Arthur_The_Lure_Of_The_North.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A Mermaid &amp; Polar Bears; Arthur Wardle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPtixPCCXa8/TwkbIMauEaI/AAAAAAAAAcc/czbRzlRbqG8/s1600/a+mermaid+and+polar+bears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPtixPCCXa8/TwkbIMauEaI/AAAAAAAAAcc/czbRzlRbqG8/s320/a+mermaid+and+polar+bears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Before Sedna's immortality in Adlivun, the underworld of Inuit mythology, there beneath the waves &amp; the icebergs, she was a young woman whose father was a mighty hunter upon the land.&nbsp; Many of the warriors of the village came to court her, Sedna rejected each one to a man.&nbsp; It was not until a striking stranger, a man with raven dark hair &amp; green-gold eyes came, that Sedna would consent to a marriage.&nbsp; He provided her with shining otter pelts &amp; carved bone jewelry.&nbsp; His canoe was intricately carved with beasts of the sea &amp; it was stained blood red.&nbsp; Sedna, aloft in the prow of his canoe, the wind stinging her cheeks &amp; the foam of the waters spraying over her hair, went with him, to journey to his country.&nbsp; The man with the green-gold eyes told her that if she looked out upon the horizon, that the land of his birth was just beyond that point.&nbsp; She slept, waves lapping, her husband whistling into the wind like a bird.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Sedna woke to the screaming of ravens.&nbsp; They beat their black wings like whirlwinds &amp; the nest in which she lay, pressed its barbed branches into her back.&nbsp; She recognized the one who had once been the beautiful stranger, she knew the green-gold of his eyes &amp; found them horrible.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The wails of Sedna, flew over the ocean, the awful sounds led her father to the island of ice where he set his courage to rescue her at his first chance.&nbsp; When dark night fell, the wretched bird-men preened their feathers, they squawked haughtily at the Inuit girl, jabbing her with their sharp beaks, &amp; then, they slumbered at last.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Father &amp; daughter stole along the cliffs.&nbsp; The canoe was in sight when the lords of the air&nbsp; discovered the theft.&nbsp; Wings beat the air, storm clouds rolled over, blotting out the light of the moon &amp; the storm in the skies caused the sea to boil.&nbsp; The canoe, now far across the ocean, was covered by a white wall of water.&nbsp; The wave crashed against them, nearly capsizing the little craft.&nbsp; Then it was, that Sedna's own father turned against her.&nbsp; The fear of death had gripped his heart in a bony hand.&nbsp; He found himself a coward.&nbsp; He grabbed hold of her inky black hair, tossing her over the side.&nbsp; Sedna screamed in terror, her slender fingers gripping the wooden side.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The axe, he smashed down against her where she clung for dear life.&nbsp; It took several swings to break the bone.&nbsp; Sedna sank beneath the waves, the light gone from her eyes, staring up at the men of the world who had betrayed her.&nbsp; Her heart had become as cold as the snow and the ice.</div></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/cdjxoE8Eb9k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/02/sedna-inuit-goddess-of-sea.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-11599065499390587512012-01-06T22:35:00.000-08:002012-01-06T22:35:26.332-08:00Coco Rocha Channels Ophelia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Looking like an ode to Shakespeare's tragic character, Ophelia from "Hamlet", Coco Rocha knows how to languish with the best of them.&nbsp; A very mermaidenly pose.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Coco Rocha, photographed by Sofia Sanchez &amp; Mauro Mongiello for <i>Numero 94</i>, July 2008</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlK1Oiz_y98/TwfgSBwDkZI/AAAAAAAAAbE/ombTpM8tuu4/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlK1Oiz_y98/TwfgSBwDkZI/AAAAAAAAAbE/ombTpM8tuu4/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-1.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IFFa_44yxI/TwfgSpsZTgI/AAAAAAAAAbM/fycl0DUURq8/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IFFa_44yxI/TwfgSpsZTgI/AAAAAAAAAbM/fycl0DUURq8/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-2.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4y_CIhasMLE/TwfgTRifipI/AAAAAAAAAbU/rkHBxtZK9Ds/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4y_CIhasMLE/TwfgTRifipI/AAAAAAAAAbU/rkHBxtZK9Ds/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-3.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft9R8fZ5cYU/TwfgUJrZesI/AAAAAAAAAbc/UNvIxmALlZ0/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft9R8fZ5cYU/TwfgUJrZesI/AAAAAAAAAbc/UNvIxmALlZ0/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UjvrSA7N2w/TwfgUgpSxaI/AAAAAAAAAbk/F5U4EoC1dZE/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UjvrSA7N2w/TwfgUgpSxaI/AAAAAAAAAbk/F5U4EoC1dZE/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6c5flXian20/TwfgVEEsidI/AAAAAAAAAbs/CzSZ5OgaLyM/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6c5flXian20/TwfgVEEsidI/AAAAAAAAAbs/CzSZ5OgaLyM/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSLeEW0Vddw/TwfgV1gH6RI/AAAAAAAAAb0/lPqNOgye8rQ/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSLeEW0Vddw/TwfgV1gH6RI/AAAAAAAAAb0/lPqNOgye8rQ/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLfvcqpHV4s/Twfjt63gYlI/AAAAAAAAAcE/tcWGrnMx51A/s1600/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLfvcqpHV4s/Twfjt63gYlI/AAAAAAAAAcE/tcWGrnMx51A/s320/coco+rocha-numero+94-ophelia-sofia+sanchez-mauro+mongiello-8.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />P.S.<br />(I have a confession...I am, on the whole, a very evil, wicked blogger who tends to ignore the fact that I have a blog.&nbsp; I'm much better at writing a lengthy, bazillion word novel than a paragraph long, blog post.&nbsp; Go figure.&nbsp; ;D ) <br /><br /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/dIC3g7LOSSs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2012/01/coco-rocha-channels-ophelia.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-24983118619809487822011-08-18T20:50:00.000-07:002011-08-18T20:50:19.350-07:00Arthur Rackham illustrates, "Undine"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGHPMOVjLpk/Tk3bxhe_sFI/AAAAAAAAAbA/_Uh5d7SAEXA/s1600/Undinebookspine_Rackham1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGHPMOVjLpk/Tk3bxhe_sFI/AAAAAAAAAbA/_Uh5d7SAEXA/s320/Undinebookspine_Rackham1.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Arthur Rackham (September 19, 1867 – September 6, 1939) was a prolific, British, book illustrator; illustrating such famous books as <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>, <i>Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, </i>the works of Shakespeare &amp; the Brothers Grimm, among many others.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Apparently, Rackham invented his own technique for illustration.&nbsp; His pictures are always utterly distinct in their almost muddied (though, very precise), muted palette.&nbsp; Perfect coloring for the waters of streams &amp; storm churned rivers. &nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wikipedia describes his way of sketching out an image thus:<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rackham invented his own unique technique which resembled photographic reproduction; he would first sketch an outline of his drawing, then lightly block in shapes and details. Afterwards he would add lines in pen and India ink, removing the pencil traces after it had dried. With color pictures, he would then apply multiple washes of color until transparent tints were created. He would also go on to expand the use of silhouette cuts in illustration work.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; These are his illustrations for the fairytale<i> Undine</i>, which was written in 1811 by <span class="st">Friedrich de la Motte<em></em> Fouqué.&nbsp; <i>Undine </i>has the distinction of, very probably, being the tale that inspired Hans Christian Andersen's, <i>The Little Mermaid</i>.&nbsp; Undine is the tragic history of a water nymph &amp; the mortal man, a knight, whom she loves.&nbsp; It is perhaps my very favorite mermaid story...</span><br /><span class="st">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I'll save the telling of the tale for a later date, with more illustrations of the watery sprite &amp; her cohorts. </span><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_de_la_Motte_Fouqu%C3%A9" style="color: black;" title="Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué"></a></u> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Undine outside the window</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayd46ZsKjms/Tk3PjlRml-I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/b1ZEyY3HNRU/s1600/undine1_outside_the_window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayd46ZsKjms/Tk3PjlRml-I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/b1ZEyY3HNRU/s320/undine1_outside_the_window.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;At the back of the little tongue of land, there lay a fearsome forest right perilous to traverse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OBhYR5NNBRw/Tk3PqmnlMKI/AAAAAAAAAaA/rqhy9flvqBs/s1600/undine2_fearsome_forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OBhYR5NNBRw/Tk3PqmnlMKI/AAAAAAAAAaA/rqhy9flvqBs/s320/undine2_fearsome_forest.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;A beautiful little girl clad in rich garments stood there on the threshold smiling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRN-2ER7XXM/Tk3Psd_TGHI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Xe7mWLF4JMg/s1600/undine3_beautiful_girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRN-2ER7XXM/Tk3Psd_TGHI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Xe7mWLF4JMg/s320/undine3_beautiful_girl.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The infancy of Undine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMMp2wmSEDs/Tk3PuXU0sII/AAAAAAAAAaI/0lkmviYUblw/s1600/undine4_infancy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMMp2wmSEDs/Tk3PuXU0sII/AAAAAAAAAaI/0lkmviYUblw/s320/undine4_infancy.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;He saw by the moonlight momentarily unveiled, a little island encircled by the flood; &amp; there under the branches of the overhanging trees was Undine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFEdxxpJt2A/Tk3Pw7BjcKI/AAAAAAAAAaM/cJO0wxyDVn0/s1600/undine5_under_the_branches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFEdxxpJt2A/Tk3Pw7BjcKI/AAAAAAAAAaM/cJO0wxyDVn0/s320/undine5_under_the_branches.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The Knight took the beautiful girl in his arms &amp; bore her over the narrow space where the stream had divided her little island from the shore</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FYjdKOCpM8w/Tk3Py_gxjyI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/NiEMaxENZk8/s1600/undine6_in_arms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FYjdKOCpM8w/Tk3Py_gxjyI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/NiEMaxENZk8/s320/undine6_in_arms.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;He held up the gold piece, crying at each leap of his, "False gold!&nbsp; False coin!&nbsp; False coin!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFuFjb1ecL4/Tk3P1KYMmRI/AAAAAAAAAaU/HTFuAJAopkA/s1600/undine7_false_coin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFuFjb1ecL4/Tk3P1KYMmRI/AAAAAAAAAaU/HTFuAJAopkA/s320/undine7_false_coin.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;At length, they all pointed their stained fingers at me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-GU6BR88UM/Tk3P3CWImsI/AAAAAAAAAaY/barV0x7GaZQ/s1600/undine8_all_pointed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-GU6BR88UM/Tk3P3CWImsI/AAAAAAAAAaY/barV0x7GaZQ/s320/undine8_all_pointed.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;When the storm threatened to burst over their heads, she uttered a laughing reproof to the clouds.&nbsp; "Come, come," sayeth she, "look to it that you wet us not."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ko-8tch4Gqc/Tk3P5FNZy2I/AAAAAAAAAac/aUMZhEaHK9o/s1600/undine9_storm_threatened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ko-8tch4Gqc/Tk3P5FNZy2I/AAAAAAAAAac/aUMZhEaHK9o/s320/undine9_storm_threatened.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Little niece," said Kuhleborn, "forgot not that I am here with thee as a guide."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tol5wJ8BVEA/Tk3P7d1horI/AAAAAAAAAag/9coS_kBCdYg/s1600/undine10_as_a_guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tol5wJ8BVEA/Tk3P7d1horI/AAAAAAAAAag/9coS_kBCdYg/s320/undine10_as_a_guide.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Bertalda</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5WNJ091UvgM/Tk3P9Y6T-ZI/AAAAAAAAAak/IO_asCcKkH4/s1600/undine11_bertalda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5WNJ091UvgM/Tk3P9Y6T-ZI/AAAAAAAAAak/IO_asCcKkH4/s320/undine11_bertalda.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;"She hath a mark, like a violet, between her shoulders, &amp; another like it on the instep of her left foot."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AgBkiaeXf9Q/Tk3P_ycZMqI/AAAAAAAAAao/8aGqYJspkA8/s1600/undine12_mark_like_violet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AgBkiaeXf9Q/Tk3P_ycZMqI/AAAAAAAAAao/8aGqYJspkA8/s320/undine12_mark_like_violet.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bertalda in the Black Valley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVc4Lv7o-AI/Tk3QBnIQrlI/AAAAAAAAAas/UtSTxs7RrxY/s1600/undine13_black_valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVc4Lv7o-AI/Tk3QBnIQrlI/AAAAAAAAAas/UtSTxs7RrxY/s320/undine13_black_valley.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Soon she was lost to sight in the Danube</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-th3gkMmWUSk/Tk3QD7q4E2I/AAAAAAAAAaw/eUjsz2Wbm0A/s1600/undine14_lost_in_danube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-th3gkMmWUSk/Tk3QD7q4E2I/AAAAAAAAAaw/eUjsz2Wbm0A/s320/undine14_lost_in_danube.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">He could see Undine beneath the crystal vault</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4pUpRFyQNB0/Tk3QGs9LeXI/AAAAAAAAAa0/bCIsR3Civ7Y/s1600/undine15_beneath_crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4pUpRFyQNB0/Tk3QGs9LeXI/AAAAAAAAAa0/bCIsR3Civ7Y/s320/undine15_beneath_crystal.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/gihaQY-BdIU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com1http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/arthur-rackham-illustrates-undine.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-90578727820875497742011-08-15T00:12:00.000-07:002011-08-15T00:12:52.291-07:00Blue Skyy, Blue Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-lf1uD9dms/TkjFCbA-DKI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3s1N6Qrelho/s1600/Skyy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-lf1uD9dms/TkjFCbA-DKI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3s1N6Qrelho/s320/Skyy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sailors downing their tankards full of mead &amp; grog, having visions of maids riding the crests of the sea.&nbsp; Apparently ad campaigners for Skyy Vodka have been drinking too much of their company's own brew.&nbsp; Another liquor ad, graced by a little mermaid in blue sequins.&nbsp; ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xctp5zcqYpI/TkjF_csScvI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/M7Iucdj7Y1Y/s1600/SKYY+VODKA+FRAME+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xctp5zcqYpI/TkjF_csScvI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/M7Iucdj7Y1Y/s320/SKYY+VODKA+FRAME+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tq02jyVpzmU?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/HFloekZSei0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/blue-skyy-blue-sea.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-54212655121639558552011-08-14T13:30:00.000-07:002011-08-14T13:30:03.597-07:00Yellow Tail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgH3pNvGNUQ/TkguVWphlRI/AAAAAAAAAZU/NladdYFrwAM/s1600/yellow+tail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgH3pNvGNUQ/TkguVWphlRI/AAAAAAAAAZU/NladdYFrwAM/s320/yellow+tail.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />How often is a television commercial creative, let alone breathtaking?&nbsp; Apparently, Yellow Tail is the wine of choice for mermaids...or do they prefer salt water? <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Tails, you win!</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p94IveFZVvo/Tkguoj9c80I/AAAAAAAAAZY/64d5c-jY628/s1600/yellow+tail2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p94IveFZVvo/Tkguoj9c80I/AAAAAAAAAZY/64d5c-jY628/s1600/yellow+tail2.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HdnVYMYkhFE/Tkguq_3qd_I/AAAAAAAAAZc/fUii9_lhgJ8/s1600/yellow+tail4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HdnVYMYkhFE/Tkguq_3qd_I/AAAAAAAAAZc/fUii9_lhgJ8/s320/yellow+tail4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zcmgYG1Ot_g/TkgutpjYF-I/AAAAAAAAAZg/ypaborWxY3g/s1600/yellow+tail5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zcmgYG1Ot_g/TkgutpjYF-I/AAAAAAAAAZg/ypaborWxY3g/s320/yellow+tail5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In6Ot5CTvfg/TkguuOklGYI/AAAAAAAAAZk/GDIAUPBBSbo/s1600/yellow+tail6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In6Ot5CTvfg/TkguuOklGYI/AAAAAAAAAZk/GDIAUPBBSbo/s320/yellow+tail6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1LJqgnrjWSI/Tkguub9EnsI/AAAAAAAAAZo/YpOOA-h2qms/s1600/yellow+tail7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1LJqgnrjWSI/Tkguub9EnsI/AAAAAAAAAZo/YpOOA-h2qms/s320/yellow+tail7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A6hQ6liwVf0/TkguujovmxI/AAAAAAAAAZs/J9qmn-abO3E/s1600/yellow+tail9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A6hQ6liwVf0/TkguujovmxI/AAAAAAAAAZs/J9qmn-abO3E/s320/yellow+tail9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/5912796?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/5912796">Yellowtail "Mermaid"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/dzula">Daniel Boris Dzula</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/36FrNSaRKz8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/yellow-tail.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-15731588412915196262011-08-13T22:06:00.000-07:002011-08-13T22:06:46.413-07:00Sabrina Down Under<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-coK2HTn43f0/TkdV1m5RpxI/AAAAAAAAAZI/Uazv7CS7P_0/s1600/sabrina+down+under1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-coK2HTn43f0/TkdV1m5RpxI/AAAAAAAAAZI/Uazv7CS7P_0/s320/sabrina+down+under1.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g8PqmPDHFD0/TkdV5hgPtaI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/_21HxGpBx5c/s1600/sabrina+down+under3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g8PqmPDHFD0/TkdV5hgPtaI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/_21HxGpBx5c/s320/sabrina+down+under3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3XZhUi2ulo/TkdV4PyqYCI/AAAAAAAAAZM/LSsix_3ILp8/s1600/sabrina+down+under2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3XZhUi2ulo/TkdV4PyqYCI/AAAAAAAAAZM/LSsix_3ILp8/s320/sabrina+down+under2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Could you use some super cheesy 90's-ness, with a merman named Barnaby, a talking cat named Salem, &amp; a witch named Sabrina?&nbsp; Of course you could!&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was a movie (to use the term loosely), I watched...several years ago now, it seems.&nbsp; It was based on the tv show, <i>Sabrina the Teenage Witch</i>, quite popular in it's heyday...well, not that it was that long ago.&nbsp; It starred Melissa Joan Hart (of course) &amp; the movie is possibly more cheesy than the tv show was.&nbsp; ;)&nbsp; Still, you might enjoy the silliness, if you're the sort of person who does not always need to take your television too seriously or if you have small children.&nbsp; And it does fall under the mermaid category.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eventually, I do solemnly promise to add the better, mermaid movies that I've seen.&nbsp; This one just happened to pop into my head at random, so here are the youtube videos, thanks to some kind 'youtuber'.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/Diu6_5FnPaU/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Diu6_5FnPaU&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Diu6_5FnPaU&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/56fUuJCDg0A?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5MXmuelrx4?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/W9kNxRhAucQ?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5o7NcC-zs4?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOmKjV8b8wU?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/pm2BNhe_7As/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pm2BNhe_7As&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pm2BNhe_7As&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/_-lFvDlITU4/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_-lFvDlITU4&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_-lFvDlITU4&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/7gsY8wuI9oo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/sabrina-down-under.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-10428169737988886482011-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:002011-08-10T12:54:32.805-07:00The Merman & the Figurehead: A Christmas Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2zwFw-3bmM/TkLebgNc-7I/AAAAAAAAAZE/8Klwh47LCmU/s1600/merman+and+the+figurehead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2zwFw-3bmM/TkLebgNc-7I/AAAAAAAAAZE/8Klwh47LCmU/s320/merman+and+the+figurehead.JPG" width="224" /></a></div><br />This is an old book that I discovered on one of my long, late into the night, forays for more mermaid lore.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; It was written by Clara F Guernsey (Octorber 1, 1836 - June 20, 1893), published (in the copy I have here, for your reading pleasure) in 1871 by J B Lippincott &amp; CO.&nbsp; And I really do mean to read the sucker one of these days...I have such a terrible time when I try to read anything online.&nbsp; Hopefully you don't have my problem with the non-physical book.&nbsp; I may have to get my grubby, little fingers on a hard copy.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Why is it subtitled, <i>A Christmas Story</i>?&nbsp; I haven't he foggiest clue.&nbsp; Sounds Dickensian.&nbsp; It looks delightful!&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Perhaps here, the merman, though he tends to hide in waters more shadowy than the mermaid, will be revealed.&nbsp; Tell me, won't you if you manage to finish it before I do, let me know how you like this merman.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Read a short, internet biography on Guernsey, <a href="http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/aww_02/aww_02_00497.html">here</a>.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To the read, <i>The Merman &amp; the Figurehead</i>, click, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=FVIDAAAAYAAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;source=gbs_ge_summary_r&amp;cad=0#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">here</a>.&nbsp; The book can be read online or downloaded, for free, onto your digital, reading apparatus thingy...which I obviously do not own, being <i>very</i> old school &amp; all.&nbsp; ;) <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/6BD8K9HfCeg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/merman-figurehead-christmas-story.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-50817799806327577942011-07-19T18:48:00.000-07:002011-07-19T18:48:33.778-07:00Evian!Well, it's true, there is only one mermaid in this category, however, these ads were too witty to pass up!&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I remember Mom &amp; Dad receiving some random magazine subscription that they hadn't paid for &amp; this little mermaid was on the back cover.&nbsp; I promptly confiscated said magazine, ripped off the back page &amp; she's been sitting in a golden frame, bought at an opera house sale, in my room, all these years.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After all, as to Evian, is a mermaid ever found far from water?&nbsp; ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N23-QlsSaNM/TiYv6WUdAQI/AAAAAAAAAYc/MBtznWZqLUk/s1600/mermaid_evian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N23-QlsSaNM/TiYv6WUdAQI/AAAAAAAAAYc/MBtznWZqLUk/s320/mermaid_evian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PP7qHeTvc08/TiYv4QnP0FI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/v-DrYerR1nI/s1600/evian+bathtub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PP7qHeTvc08/TiYv4QnP0FI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/v-DrYerR1nI/s320/evian+bathtub.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uDjGGrFGo7M/TiYv253VMsI/AAAAAAAAAYM/cSGUbj3QExg/s1600/evian+bartender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uDjGGrFGo7M/TiYv253VMsI/AAAAAAAAAYM/cSGUbj3QExg/s320/evian+bartender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNs8xkTwQb8/TiYvzygSinI/AAAAAAAAAYI/pdIyj49l_ac/s1600/evian+angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNs8xkTwQb8/TiYvzygSinI/AAAAAAAAAYI/pdIyj49l_ac/s320/evian+angel.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg5zK3ZvLzI/TiYv5JdZ3_I/AAAAAAAAAYY/jLjeuHtLDgA/s1600/evian+goldfish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg5zK3ZvLzI/TiYv5JdZ3_I/AAAAAAAAAYY/jLjeuHtLDgA/s320/evian+goldfish2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NAMhQsRfqgQ/TiYvyuYIy_I/AAAAAAAAAYE/iceOs0NxFoQ/s1600/4146_d8452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NAMhQsRfqgQ/TiYvyuYIy_I/AAAAAAAAAYE/iceOs0NxFoQ/s320/4146_d8452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9z5u7Z2Kbg/TiYv4r5QVzI/AAAAAAAAAYU/f-COF5AAf64/s1600/evian+goldfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9z5u7Z2Kbg/TiYv4r5QVzI/AAAAAAAAAYU/f-COF5AAf64/s320/evian+goldfish.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/Odaf3BIAam8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/07/evian.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-33112300509835877072011-05-31T20:19:00.000-07:002011-08-12T19:12:06.747-07:00Hans Zatzka Pearls of the SeaHans Zatzka (<span class="underhead2">1859 - 1945)</span>, who I've heard signed all his paintings with the pseudonym of Joseph Bernard, was an Austrian painter.&nbsp; Honestly, I have yet to discover very much about his life (perhaps a trip to the library will solve this conundrum), however,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.allartclassic.com/author_biography.php?p_number=252">World Classic Gallery</a> has put it this way: <i>Hans Zatzka, also known as P. Ronsard, was an Academic, Austrian artist. Zatzka was a painter of allegorical subjects, genre scene paintings, and figures. Zatzka spent many years dedicating his painting to the churches and other known establishments of Austria.&nbsp;&nbsp;</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hans Zatzka, also known as P. Ronsard, was born in Vienna on 8th March, 1859 and he was a pupil at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Vienna between 1877 and 1882.</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Zatzka dedicated most of his artistic life to decorating the numerous churches in Vienna and those in Mayerling, Olmutz and Innsubruck.&nbsp; His religious paintings and altar piece paintings were highly regarded but he was more widely known for his passionate paintings depicting women, fairies and mythological subjects.&nbsp; Aware of the huge popularity of his paintings of women Zatzka produced many of them and even had some of them reproduced as postcards.&nbsp; Today, Hans Zatzka paintings are sought-after by collectors as are his postcards.</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is unknown exactly when Hans Zatzka died but it is thought to have been either in 1945 or 1949.</i><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Pearls of the Sea; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhV1HEZ56nY/TeWiNEOI8RI/AAAAAAAAAXo/WGt-GGY1IKs/s1600/hans+zatzka+pearls+of+the+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhV1HEZ56nY/TeWiNEOI8RI/AAAAAAAAAXo/WGt-GGY1IKs/s320/hans+zatzka+pearls+of+the+sea.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;A Water Idyll; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMJhOio8pNw/TeWiFeMy4GI/AAAAAAAAAXU/UAP0_Qli3Fo/s1600/a_water_idyll-huge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMJhOio8pNw/TeWiFeMy4GI/AAAAAAAAAXU/UAP0_Qli3Fo/s320/a_water_idyll-huge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">A Water Nymph; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufYeKojdzbo/TeWiT7ofyeI/AAAAAAAAAX4/OcqCdZozCLo/s1600/WATER+NYMPH+by+JOSEPH+BERNARD+aka+Hans+Zatzka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufYeKojdzbo/TeWiT7ofyeI/AAAAAAAAAX4/OcqCdZozCLo/s320/WATER+NYMPH+by+JOSEPH+BERNARD+aka+Hans+Zatzka.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A Water Idyll; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FowWgQb_AAg/TeWiIEhJ3dI/AAAAAAAAAXY/9vckupidI48/s1600/a_water_idyll-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FowWgQb_AAg/TeWiIEhJ3dI/AAAAAAAAAXY/9vckupidI48/s320/a_water_idyll-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Water Nymphs; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksgjFDdUjCs/TeWiOvs-ZUI/AAAAAAAAAXs/Yva7x6Ty0mo/s1600/hans+zatzka+water-nymphs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksgjFDdUjCs/TeWiOvs-ZUI/AAAAAAAAAXs/Yva7x6Ty0mo/s320/hans+zatzka+water-nymphs.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emCIVPzK4dY/TeWiRYx89jI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dm_Ju8UzNFU/s1600/hans_zatzka_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emCIVPzK4dY/TeWiRYx89jI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dm_Ju8UzNFU/s320/hans_zatzka_.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Nymph's Harem Bathing; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9YlYPWu_7Q/TeWtcTEOIZI/AAAAAAAAAX8/7CDYXsAElUA/s1600/the_nymph_s_harem_bathing+1890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9YlYPWu_7Q/TeWtcTEOIZI/AAAAAAAAAX8/7CDYXsAElUA/s320/the_nymph_s_harem_bathing+1890.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;A Girl &amp; Cupid; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pOyJ0ngguc0/TeWtuCmMChI/AAAAAAAAAYA/ljYZlkmxm-A/s1600/girl+and+cupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pOyJ0ngguc0/TeWtuCmMChI/AAAAAAAAAYA/ljYZlkmxm-A/s320/girl+and+cupid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/Mhite62A4tY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com2http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/hans-zatzka-pearls-of-sea.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-39476621155213436672011-05-20T20:36:00.000-07:002011-05-20T20:36:18.901-07:00Pliny the Elder's "Historia Naturalis", Making Mention of Mermaids<div class="center" style="text-align: center;">Naiades et centaures dans les vagues; Georges Jules Victor Clairin; Oil on Canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNWlI0To8JA/TdctOw0GtUI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/jziDvoV2J7U/s1600/Georges+Jules+Victor+Clairin+French+1843-1919+Naiades+et+centaures+dans+les+vagues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNWlI0To8JA/TdctOw0GtUI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/jziDvoV2J7U/s320/Georges+Jules+Victor+Clairin+French+1843-1919+Naiades+et+centaures+dans+les+vagues.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;(Do you see the pale mermaids in sloshing foam?&nbsp; One has got away from those randy centaurs.)</div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="center" style="margin-bottom: 0em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE NINTH BOOKE OF </span></div><div> </div><div class="center" style="margin-bottom: 0em; margin-top: 0em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="center" style="margin-bottom: 0em; margin-top: 0em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="center" style="margin-bottom: 3em; margin-top: 0em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">SECVNDVS.</span></div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;<a href="" id="chap5">C<span class="smallcaps">HAP.</span> V.</a></span></div><div> </div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Of Tritons, Nereides, and sea-Elephants, a</span>nd their formes.</i></div><div class="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="noindent"><span class="begincaps">IN the time</span> that <i>Tiberius</i> was Emperour, there came unto him an Embassador from <i>Ulyssipon</i>, sent of purpose to make relation, That upon their sea coast there was discovered within a certain hole, a certain sea goblin, called Triton, sounding a shell like a Trumpet or Cornet: &amp; that he was in forme and shape like those that are commonly painted for Tritons. And for the Meremaids called Nereides, it is no fabulous tale that goeth of them: for looke how painters draw them, so they are indeed: only their bodie is rough and skaled all over, even in those parts wherin they resemble a woman. For such a Meremaid was seene, and beheld plainely upon the same coast neere to the shore: and the inhabitants dwelling neer, heard it a farre off, when it was a dying, to make piteous mone, crying and chattering very heavily. Moreover, a lieutenant or governour under <i>Augustus Cæsar</i> in Gaule, advertised him by his letters, That many of these Nereides or Meremaids were seene cast upon the sands, and lying dead. I am able to bring forth for mine authors divers knights of Rome, right worshipfull persons and of good credite, who testifie that in the coast of the Spanish Ocean neere unto Gades, they have seene a Mere-man, in every respect resembling a man as perfectly in all parts of the bodie as might bee. And they report moreover, that in the night season he would come out of the sea abourd their ships: but look upon what part soever he setled, he waied the same downe, and if he rested and continued there any long time, he would sinke it cleane. In the daies of <i>Tiberius</i> the Emperour, in a certain Island upon the coast of the province of Lions, the sea after an eb, left upon the bare sands three hundred sea-monsters and above, at one flote together, of a wonderfull varietie and bignesse, differing asunder. And there were no fewer found upon the coast of the Santones. And among the rest there were sea-Elephants and Rams, with teeth standing out; and hornes also, like to those of the land, but that they were white like as the foresaid teeth: over and besides, many Mere maids. <a href="" id="S11"><i>Turanius</i></a> hath reported, That a monster was driven and cast upon the coast of Gades, betweene the two hindmost finnes whereof in the taile, were sixteene cubites: it had 122 teeth, whereof the biggest were a span or nine inches in measure, and the least halfe a foot. <i>M. Scaurus</i> among other strange and wonderfull sights that he exhibited to the people of Rome, to doe them pleasure in his Ædileship, shewed openly the bones of that sea-monster, before which ladie <i>Andromeda</i> (by report) was cast to be devoured: which were brought to Rome from Ioppe, a town in Iudæa: and they caried in length fortie foot: deeper were the ribs than any Indian Elephant is high, and the tidge-bone a foot and halfe thicke.</div><div class="noindent"><br /></div><div class="noindent"><span style="font-size: large;">To read more of Pliny's<i> Natural History</i>, visit this website, which has the full text online,&nbsp;<a href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/holland/index.html">"Historia Naturalis"</a>.</span></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/i_XeJXdEyfk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/pliny-elders-historia-naturalis-making.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-5635685710519383802011-05-17T18:47:00.000-07:002011-05-17T18:48:24.184-07:00Edmund Dulac Illustrates, "The Little Mermaid"<span style="font-size: large;">Edmund Dulac (October 22, 1882 – May 25, 1953) was a French artist who came to considerable fame during what is often referred to as "The Golden Age of Illustration", a period of years between 1880 until shortly after World War I.&nbsp; Even now, you hear his name &amp; you can see the remarkable, Arabian Night-esque opulence of his characters.&nbsp; Below are his illustrations for Hans Christian Andersen's, <i>The Little Mermaid</i>, which were taken from the book, <i>Stories from Hans Christian Andersen</i>, published in 1911, as well as a few other mermaid images.&nbsp; I love the way his underwater plants seem to have tentacles, like they have a life of their own!</span><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; Enjoy!&nbsp; :D</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl11zzEccKg/TctHLClFLpI/AAAAAAAAAW4/iS7v9gJl1RE/s1600/edmund+dulac_mermaid3_sparkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl11zzEccKg/TctHLClFLpI/AAAAAAAAAW4/iS7v9gJl1RE/s320/edmund+dulac_mermaid3_sparkle.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MQ79AQKNSQ/TctHGSD6QtI/AAAAAAAAAWs/41iFn85IkVQ/s1600/edmond+dulac+the+little+mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MQ79AQKNSQ/TctHGSD6QtI/AAAAAAAAAWs/41iFn85IkVQ/s320/edmond+dulac+the+little+mermaid.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vS8jFbbzHPU/TctHV-iG7kI/AAAAAAAAAXE/k-tFJpZ8EWs/s1600/Edmund_Dulac_watercolor_painting_The_Mermaid_and_The_Prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vS8jFbbzHPU/TctHV-iG7kI/AAAAAAAAAXE/k-tFJpZ8EWs/s320/Edmund_Dulac_watercolor_painting_The_Mermaid_and_The_Prince.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgXqqQOP7OY/TctHMHp0n9I/AAAAAAAAAW8/8FjsY7G_hV4/s1600/edmund+dulac_mermaid5_foam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgXqqQOP7OY/TctHMHp0n9I/AAAAAAAAAW8/8FjsY7G_hV4/s320/edmund+dulac_mermaid5_foam.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VPbSd9Dlf0E/TctHPUqp2mI/AAAAAAAAAXA/HwiB_zq7ebw/s1600/Edmund_Dulac_-_The_Mermaid_-_Merman_King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VPbSd9Dlf0E/TctHPUqp2mI/AAAAAAAAAXA/HwiB_zq7ebw/s320/Edmund_Dulac_-_The_Mermaid_-_Merman_King.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79PDp408Pcs/TctHHHsrgBI/AAAAAAAAAWw/GhW-UL-X_r0/s1600/edmund+dulac+little_mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79PDp408Pcs/TctHHHsrgBI/AAAAAAAAAWw/GhW-UL-X_r0/s320/edmund+dulac+little_mermaid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GhT8gsmTtsE/TctHJhhBtuI/AAAAAAAAAW0/xF22fEzwrAE/s1600/edmund+dulac+mermaids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GhT8gsmTtsE/TctHJhhBtuI/AAAAAAAAAW0/xF22fEzwrAE/s320/edmund+dulac+mermaids.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdmI7vZj9UA/TctHWuzjvaI/AAAAAAAAAXI/liIFesiXiVU/s1600/moonshine-fairies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdmI7vZj9UA/TctHWuzjvaI/AAAAAAAAAXI/liIFesiXiVU/s320/moonshine-fairies.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/IfhykXjtC_Y" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com1http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/edmund-dulac-illustrates-little-mermaid.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-36458396449294656622011-05-17T18:46:00.000-07:002011-05-17T18:51:12.733-07:00"Sam", by Walter de la Mare<div style="text-align: center;">Die Loreley; Philipp Foltz; 1850</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cuSWcshbSXw/TdMiZbbceII/AAAAAAAAAXM/Q9PqpkHQNV0/s1600/Die_Loreley_Philipp_Foltz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cuSWcshbSXw/TdMiZbbceII/AAAAAAAAAXM/Q9PqpkHQNV0/s320/Die_Loreley_Philipp_Foltz.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sam</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When Sam goes back in memory,<br />It is to where the sea<br />Breaks on the shingle, emerald-green,<br />In white foam, endlessly;</div><div style="text-align: center;">He says--with small brown eyes on mine-<br />"I used to keep awake,<br />And lean from my window in the moon,<br />Watching those billows break.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />And half a million tiny hands,<br />And eyes, like sparks of frost,<br />Would dance and come tumbling into the moon,<br />On every breaker tossed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />And all across from star to star,<br />I've seen the watery sea,<br />With not a single ship in sight,<br />Just ocean there, and me;<br />And heard my father snore. And once,<br />As sure as I'm alive,<br />Out of those wallowing, moon-flecked waves<br />I saw a mermaid dive;<br />Head and shoulders above the wave,<br />Plain as I now see you,<br />Combing her hair, now back, now front,<br />Her two eyes peeping through;<br />Calling me, (Sam!--quietlike--(Sam! . .</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />But me . . . I never went,<br />Making believe I kind of thought<br />'Twas some one else she meant ...<br />Wonderful lovely there she sat,<br />Singing the night away,<br />All in the solitudinous sea<br />Of that there lonely bay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />"P'raps," and he'd smooth his hairless mouth,<br />"P'raps, if 'twere now, my son,<br />P'raps, if I heard a voice say, 'Sam!'...<br />Morning would find me gone."</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/W-rztXSztig" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/sam-by-walter-de-la-mare.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-2538304480586546632011-05-10T21:39:00.000-07:002011-05-10T21:39:44.554-07:00Walter de la Mare, Mermaids<span style="font-size: large;">Two poems of the mermaids who bewitched the poet, Walter de la Mare (April 25, 1873 – June 22, 1956).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A Mermaid; Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann; 1863</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B38P7SvBHAM/TcoPml0Ou-I/AAAAAAAAAWo/_cZ3yoD8uvs/s1600/Elisabeth+Jerichau-Baumann+-+A+Mermaid+at+NY+Carlsberg+Glyptotek+1863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B38P7SvBHAM/TcoPml0Ou-I/AAAAAAAAAWo/_cZ3yoD8uvs/s320/Elisabeth+Jerichau-Baumann+-+A+Mermaid+at+NY+Carlsberg+Glyptotek+1863.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The Mermaid</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Leagues, leagues over the sea I sail</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Couched on a wallowing dolphin's tail.<br /><br />The sky is on fire, the waves a-sheen,<br />I dabble my foot in the billows green.<br /><br />In a sea-weed hat on the rocks I sit,<br />where tern and sea-mew glide and beat,<br />and where dark shadows the cormorants meet.<br /><br />In caverns cool when the tide's a wash,<br />I sound my conch to the watery splash.<br /><br />From out their grottos at evenings beam,<br />the mermaids swim with locks agleam.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">En Havfrue; Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann; 1863</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ1_OK1ARpU/TcoPgsw9k2I/AAAAAAAAAWk/fJFqNVacHXs/s1600/elisabeth+jerichau+baumann+Havfrue+1863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ1_OK1ARpU/TcoPgsw9k2I/AAAAAAAAAWk/fJFqNVacHXs/s320/elisabeth+jerichau+baumann+Havfrue+1863.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The Mermaids</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sand, sand; hills of sand;<br />And the wind where nothing is<br />Green and sweet of the land;<br />No grass, no trees,<br />No bird, no butterfly,<br />But hills, hills of sand,<br />And a burning sky.<br /><br />Sea, sea, mounds of the sea,<br />Hollow, and dark, and blue,<br />Flashing incessantly<br />The whole sea through;<br />No flower, no jutting root,<br />Only the floor of the sea,<br />With foam afloat.<br /><br />Blow, blow, winding shells;<br />And the watery fish,<br />Deaf to the hidden bells,<br />In the water splash;<br />No streaming gold, no eyes,<br />Watching along the waves,<br />But far-blown shells, faint bells,<br />From the darkling caves.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/6RdYkaI85z4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com2http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/walter-de-la-mare-mermaids.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-47741414168313739852011-05-09T21:31:00.000-07:002011-05-09T21:31:02.055-07:00The Art Deco Mermaids of Carlo ChiostriCarlo Chiostri (1863 - 1939) was a prolific, Italian illustrator, quite often illustrating fairy tales.&nbsp; Among these fairy pictures are his mermaids with their pretty, little faces &amp; bright, red lips.&nbsp; Something like a precursor to Disney's mermaids in <i>Peter Pan </i>&amp; <i>The Little Mermaid</i>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-krCO7MGObMg/Tci7NMsFdhI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Aciss6obAEk/s1600/carlo+chiostri4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-krCO7MGObMg/Tci7NMsFdhI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Aciss6obAEk/s320/carlo+chiostri4.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJtF95qk33U/Tci7Nn1YzxI/AAAAAAAAAWc/Z_VzE3q1GRs/s1600/carlo+chiostri5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJtF95qk33U/Tci7Nn1YzxI/AAAAAAAAAWc/Z_VzE3q1GRs/s320/carlo+chiostri5.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lb2x0vjbH9M/Tci7J3XneTI/AAAAAAAAAWM/QJxXvuXpvPk/s1600/carlo+chiostri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lb2x0vjbH9M/Tci7J3XneTI/AAAAAAAAAWM/QJxXvuXpvPk/s320/carlo+chiostri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzIUU3Crl8I/Tci7I3Wi02I/AAAAAAAAAWI/6UNlqpIS2iE/s1600/carlo+chiostri+mermaid-with-parasol-and-cupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzIUU3Crl8I/Tci7I3Wi02I/AAAAAAAAAWI/6UNlqpIS2iE/s320/carlo+chiostri+mermaid-with-parasol-and-cupid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUcrjKXJZh0/Tci7KT6IlDI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ddSt_HO1cic/s1600/carlo+chiostri2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUcrjKXJZh0/Tci7KT6IlDI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ddSt_HO1cic/s320/carlo+chiostri2.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-trTCp9Hpslk/Tci7MFlwYfI/AAAAAAAAAWU/LdMKbQPw3DM/s1600/carlo+chiostri3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-trTCp9Hpslk/Tci7MFlwYfI/AAAAAAAAAWU/LdMKbQPw3DM/s320/carlo+chiostri3.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/-SIlu_kn7Wk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com4http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/art-deco-mermaids-of-carlo-chiostri.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-68538839213464053322011-05-08T22:18:00.000-07:002011-05-08T22:18:15.119-07:00Sabrina Fair by John Milton<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Arthur Rackham, Sabrina Rises; 1921</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-WU6IcuNCc/Tcd1uUNQXpI/AAAAAAAAAWA/sIjwR-C6kaY/s1600/arthur+rackham+sabrina+rises+1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-WU6IcuNCc/Tcd1uUNQXpI/AAAAAAAAAWA/sIjwR-C6kaY/s320/arthur+rackham+sabrina+rises+1921.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">A lavishly gorgeous poem about Sabrina Fair, the savior, from the play, <i>Comus: A Masque</i>, by John Milton (December 9, 1608 – November 8, 1674)</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet Echo, sweetest Nymph that livst unseen<br />Within thy airy shell<br />By slow Meander's margent green,<br />And in the violet imbroider'd vale<br />Where the love-lorn Nightingale<br />Nightly to thee her sad Song mourneth well.<br />Canst thou not tell me of a gentle Pair<br />That likest thy Narcissus are?<br />O if thou have<br />Hid them in som flowry Cave,<br />Tell me but where<br />Sweet Queen of Parly, Daughter of the Sphear,<br />So maist thou be translated to the skies,<br />And give resounding grace to all Heavns Harmonies</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sabrina fair<br />Listen where thou art sitting<br />Under the glassie, cool, translucent wave,<br />In twisted braids of Lillies knitting<br />The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair,<br />Listen for dear honour's sake,<br />Goddess of the silver lake,<br />Listen and save.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Listen and appear to us<br />In name of great Oceanus,<br />By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace,<br />And Tethys grave majestick pace,<br />By hoary Nereus wrincled look,<br />And the Carpathian wisards hook,<br />By scaly Tritons winding shell,<br />And old sooth-saying Glaucus spell,<br />By Leucothea's lovely hands,<br />And her son that rules the strands,<br />By Thetis tinsel-slipper'd feet,<br />And the Songs of Sirens sweet,<br />By dead Parthenope's dear tomb,<br />And fair Ligea's golden comb,<br />Wherwith she sits on diamond rocks<br />Sleeking her soft alluring locks,<br />By all the Nymphs that nightly dance<br />Upon thy streams with wily glance,<br />Rise, rise, and heave thy rosie head<br />From thy coral-pav'n bed,<br />And bridle in thy headlong wave,<br />Till thou our summons answered have.<br />Listen and save.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sabrina rises, attended by water-Nymphes, and sings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By the rushy-fringed bank,<br />Where grows the Willow and the Osier dank,<br />My sliding Chariot stayes,<br />Thick set with Agat, and the azurn sheen<br />Of Turkis blew, and Emrauld green<br />That in the channell strayes,<br />Whilst from off the waters fleet<br />Thus I set my printless feet<br />O're the Cowslips Velvet head,<br />That bends not as I tread,<br />Gentle swain at thy request<br />I am here.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/Ywr2W77a4x4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/sabrina-fair-by-john-milton.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-89998437826305970072011-05-04T20:04:00.000-07:002011-05-04T20:04:11.773-07:00The Soul Cages by Thomas Crofton Croker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arthur Rackham, A Crowned Merman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t6L58u6Shq4/TcIRROqsxvI/AAAAAAAAAVY/8l1spxjutWM/s1600/arthur+rackham+a_crowned_merman-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t6L58u6Shq4/TcIRROqsxvI/AAAAAAAAAVY/8l1spxjutWM/s320/arthur+rackham+a_crowned_merman-large.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;Thomas Crofton Croker (January 15, 1798 – August 8, 1854) was an Irish antiquary, born at Cork.&nbsp; This according to Wikipedia...of course.&nbsp; All I need to know, I learned from Wikipedia?&nbsp; ;D&nbsp; Read more about the author here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crofton_Croker">Thomas Crofton Croker</a>.&nbsp; Some of his works were even translated by the Brothers Grimm.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is his story of a merrow called Coomara (taken from the book <i>Fairy Legends of the South of Ireland</i>) &amp; the man who befriends him, only to discover that his watery comrade has a rather strange &amp; terrifying 'collection'.&nbsp; I first read the condensed version of the story in Katharine Briggs' book, <i>An Encyclopedia of Fairies</i>.&nbsp; Here is Thomas Croker's wily tale.</span><br /><br /><br />Jack Dogherty lived on the coast of the county Clare. Jack was a fisherman, as his father and grandfather before him had been. Like them, too, he lived all alone (but for<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_62"></a> the wife), and just in the same spot. People used to wonder why the Dogherty family were so fond of that wild situation, so far away from all human kind, and in the midst of huge shattered rocks, with nothing but the wide ocean to look upon. But they had their own good reasons for it.<br />The place was just the only spot on that part of the coast where anybody could well live. There was a neat little creek, where a boat might lie as snug as a puffin in her nest, and out from this creek a ledge of sunken rocks ran into the sea. Now when the Atlantic, according to custom, was raging with a storm, and a good westerly wind was blowing strong on the coast, many a richly-laden ship went to pieces on these rocks; and then the fine bales of cotton and tobacco, and such like things, and the pipes of wine and the puncheons of rum, and the casks of brandy, and the kegs of Hollands that used to come ashore! Dunbeg Bay was just like a little estate to the Doghertys.<br />Not but they were kind and humane to a distressed sailor, if ever one had the good luck to get to land; and many a time indeed did Jack put out in his little <i>corragh</i> (which, though not quite equal to honest Andrew Hennessy's canvas life-boat would breast the billows like any gannet), to lend a hand towards bringing off the crew from a wreck. But when the ship had gone to pieces, and the crew were all lost, who would blame Jack for picking up all he could find?<br />"And who is the worse of it?" said he. "For as to the king, God bless him! everybody knows he's rich enough already without getting what's floating in the sea."<br />Jack, though such a hermit, was a good-natured, jolly fellow. No other, sure, could ever have coaxed Biddy Mahony to quit her father's snug and warm house in the middle of the town of Ennis, and to go so many miles off to live among the rocks, with the seals and sea-gulls for next-door neighbours. But Biddy knew that Jack was the man for a woman who wished to be comfortable and happy; for to say nothing of the fish, Jack had the supplying of half<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_63"></a> the gentlemen's houses of the country with the <i>Godsends</i> that came into the bay. And she was right in her choice; for no woman ate, drank, or slept better, or made a prouder appearance at chapel on Sundays, than Mrs. Dogherty.<br />Many a strange sight, it may well be supposed, did Jack see, and many a strange sound did he hear, but nothing daunted him. So far was he from being afraid of Merrows, or such beings, that the very first wish of his heart was to fairly meet with one. Jack had heard that they were mighty like Christians, and that luck had always come out of an acquaintance with them. Never, therefore, did he dimly discern the Merrows moving along the face of the waters in their robes of mist, but he made direct for them; and many a scolding did Biddy, in her own quiet way, bestow upon Jack for spending his whole day out at sea, and bringing home no fish. Little did poor Biddy know the fish Jack was after!<br />It was rather annoying to Jack that, though living in a place where the Merrows were as plenty as lobsters, he never could get a right view of one. What vexed him more was that both his father and grandfather had often and often seen them; and he even remembered hearing, when a child, how his grandfather, who was the first of the family that had settled down at the creek, had been so intimate with a Merrow that, only for fear of vexing the priest, he would have had him stand for one of his children. This, however, Jack did not well know how to believe.<br />Fortune at length began to think that it was only right that Jack should know as much as his father and grandfather did. Accordingly, one day when he had strolled a little farther than usual along the coast to the northward, just as he turned a point, he saw something, like to nothing he had ever seen before, perched upon a rock at a little distance out to sea. It looked green in the body, as well as he could discern at that distance, and he would have sworn, only the thing was impossible, that it had a cocked hat in its hand. Jack stood for a good half-hour straining his eyes, and wondering at it, and all the time the thing did not stir hand or foot. At last Jack's patience was quite worn out, and he gave a loud whistle and a hail, when the Merrow (for such it was) started up, put the cocked hat on its head, and dived down, head foremost, from the rock.&nbsp; <br />Jack's curiosity was now excited, and he constantly directed his steps towards the point; still he could never get a glimpse of the sea-gentleman with the cocked hat; and with thinking and thinking about the matter, he began at last to fancy he had been only dreaming. One very rough day, however, when the sea was running mountains high, Jack Dogherty determined to give a look at the Merrow's rock (for he had always chosen a fine day before), and then he saw the strange thing cutting capers upon the top of the rock, and then diving down, and then coming up, and then diving down again.<br />Jack had now only to choose his time (that is, a good blowing day), and he might see the man of the sea as often as he pleased. All this. however, did not satisfy him--"much will have more"; he wished now to get acquainted with the Merrow, and even in this he succeeded. One tremendous blustering day, before he got to the point whence he had a view of the Merrow's rock, the storm came on so furiously that Jack was obliged to take shelter in one of the caves which are so numerous along the coast; and there, to his astonishment, he saw sitting before him a thing with green hair, long green teeth, a red nose, and pig's eyes. It had a fish's tail, legs with scales on them, and short arms like fins. It wore no clothes, but had the cocked hat under its arm, and seemed engaged thinking very seriously about something.<br />Jack, with all his courage, was a little daunted; but now or never, thought he; so up he went boldly to the cogitating fishman, took off his hat, and made his best bow.<br />"Your servant, sir," said Jack.<br />"Your servant, kindly, Jack Dogherty," answered the Merrow.<br />"To be sure, then, how well your honour knows my name!" said Jack. "Is it I not know your name, Jack Dogherty? Why man, I knew your grandfather long before he was married to Judy Regan, your grandmother! Ah, Jack, Jack, I was fond of that grandfather of yours; he was a mighty worthy man in his time: I never met his match above or below, before or since, for sucking in a shellful of brandy. I hope, my boy," said the old fellow, with a merry twinkle in his eyes, "I hope you're his own grandson!"<br />'Never fear me for that," said Jack; "if my mother had only reared me on brandy, 'tis myself that would be a sucking infant to this hour!"<br />"Well, I like to hear you talk so manly; you and I must be better acquainted, if it were only for your grandfather's sake. But, Jack, that father of yours was not the thing! he had no head at all."<br />"I'm sure, said Jack, "since your honour lives down under the water, you must be obliged to drink a power to keep any beat in you in such a cruel, damp, could place. Well, I've often heard of Christians drinking like fishes; and might I be so bold as ask where you get the spirits?"<br />"Where do you get them yourself, Jack?" said the Merrow, twitching his red nose between his forefinger and thumb.<br />"Hubbubboo," cries Jack "now I see how it is; but I suppose, sir, your honour has got a fine dry cellar below to keep them in."<br />"Let me alone for the cellar," said the Merrow, with a knowing wink of his left eye.<br />'I'm sure," continued Jack, "it must be mighty well worth the looking at."<br />"You may say that, Jack," said the Merrow; "and if you meet me here next Monday, just at this time of the day, we will have a little more talk with one another about the matter."<br />Jack and the Merrow parted the best friends in the world.<span style="color: green;">&nbsp; </span>On Monday they met, and Jack was not a little surprised to see that the Merrow had two cocked hats with him, one under each arm <br />"Might I take the liberty to ask, sir," said Jack, "why your honour has brought the two hats with you today? You would not, sure, be going to give me one of them, to keep for the <i>curiosity</i> of the thing?"<br />"No, no, Jack," said he, "I don't get my hats so easily, to part with them that way; but I want you to come down and dine with me, and I brought you that hat to dive with."<br />"Lord bless and preserve us!" cried Jack, in amazement, would you want me to go down to the bottom of the salt sea ocean? Sure, I'd be smothered and choked up with the water, to say nothing of being drowned! And what would poor Biddy do for me, and what would she say?"<br />"And what matter what she says, you pinkeen? Who cares for Biddy's squalling? It's long before your grandfather would have talked in that way. Many's the time he stuck that same hat on his head, and dived down boldly after me; and many's the snug bit of dinner and good shellful of brandy he and I have had together below, under the water."<br />"Is it really, sir, and no joke?" said Jack; "why, then, sorrow from me for ever and a day after, if I'll be a bit worse man nor my grandfather was! Here goes--but play me fair now. Here's neck or nothing!" cried Jack.<br />"That's your grandfather all over," said the old fellow; "so come along, then, and do as I do."<br />They both left the cave, walked into the sea, and then swam a piece until they got to the rock, The Merrow climbed to the top of it, and Jack followed him. On the far side it was as straight as the wall of a house, and the sea beneath looked so deep that Jack was almost cowed.<br />"Now, do you see, Jack," said the Merrow: "just put this hat on your head, and mind to keep your eyes wide open. Take hold of my tail, and follow after me, and you'll see what you'll see."<br />In he dashed, and in dashed Jack after him boldly.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_76"></a>&nbsp; They went and they went, and Jack thought they'd never stop going. Many a time did he wish himself sitting at home by the fireside with Biddy. Yet where was the use of wishing now, when he was so many miles, as he thought, below the waves of the Atlantic? Still he held hard by the Merrow's tail, slippery as it was; and, at last, to Jack's great surprise, they got out of the water, and he actually found himself on dry land at the bottom of the sea. They landed just in front of a nice house that was slated very neatly with oyster shells! and the Merrow, turning about to Jack, welcomed him down.<br />Jack could hardly speak, what with wonder, and what with being out of breath with travelling so fast through the water. He looked about him and could see no living things, barring crabs and lobsters, of which there were plenty walking leisurely about on the sand. Overhead was the sea like a sky, and the fishes like birds swimming about in it.<br />"Why don't you speak, man?" said the Merrow: "I dare say you had no notion that I had such a snug little concern here as this? Are you smothered, or choked, or drowned, or are you fretting after Biddy, eh?"<br />"Oh! not myself indeed," said Jack, showing his teeth with a good-humoured grin; "but who in the world would ever have thought of seeing such a thing?"<br />'Yell, come along, and let's see what they've got for us to eat?"<br />Jack really was hungry, and it gave him no small pleasure to perceive a fine column of smoke rising from the chimney, announcing what was going on within. Into the house he followed the Merrow, and there he saw a good kitchen, right well provided with everything. There was a noble dresser, and plenty of pots and pans, with two young Merrows cooking. His host then led him into the room, which was furnished shabbily enough. Not a table or a chair was there in it; nothing but planks and logs of wood to sit on, and eat off. There was, however, a good fire blazing upon the hearth--a comfortable sight to Jack.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_68"><span style="color: green; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></a><br />"Come now, and I'll show you where I keep--you know what," said the Merrow, with a sly look; and opening a little door, he led Jack into a fine cellar, well filled with pipes, and kegs, and hogsheads, and barrels.<br />"What do you say to that, Jack Dogherty? Eh! may be a body can't live snug under the water?"<br />"Never the doubt of that," said Jack, with a convincing smack of his upper lip, that he really thought what he said.<br />They went back to the room, and found dinner laid. There was no tablecloth, to be sure--but what matter? It was not always Jack had one at home. The dinner would have been no discredit to the first house of the country on a fast day. The choicest of fish, and no wonder, was there. Turbots, and sturgeons, and soles, and lobsters, and oysters, and twenty other kinds, were on the planks at once, and plenty of the best of foreign spirits. The wines, the old fellow said, were too cold for his stomach.<br />Jack ate and drank till he could eat no more: then taking up a shell of brandy, "Here's to your honour's good health, sir," said he; "though, begging you pardon, it's mighty odd that as long as we've been acquainted I don't know your name yet."<br />"That's true, Jack," replied he; "I never thought of it before, but better late than never. My name's Coomara."<br />"And a mighty decent name it is," cried Jack, taking another shellfull: "here's to your good health, Coomara, and may ye live these fifty years to come!"<br />"Fifty years!" repeated Coomara; "I'm obliged to you, indeed! If you had said five hundred, it would have been something worth the wishing."<br />"By the laws, sir," cries Jack, "<i>youz</i> live to a powerful age here under the water! You knew my grandfather, and he's dead and gone better than these sixty years. I'm sure it must be a healthy place to live in."<br />"No doubt of it; but come, Jack, keep the liquor stirring."<br />Shell after shell did they empty, and to Jack's exceeding<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_69"></a> surprise, he found the drink never got into his head, owing, I suppose, to the sea being over them, which kept their noddles cool.<br />Old Coomara got exceedingly comfortable, and sung several songs; but Jack, if his life had depended on it, never could remember more than<br /><br /><dir> <dir> "<i>Rum fum boodle boo,<br />Ripple dipple nitty dob;<br />Dumdoo doodle coo,<br />Raffle taffle chittiboo</i>!"</dir> </dir> It was the chorus to one of them; and, to say the truth, nobody that I know has ever been able to pick any particular meaning out of it; but that, to be sure, is the case with many a song nowadays.<br />At length said he to Jack, "Now, my dear boy, if you follow me, I'll show you my <i>curiosities</i>!" He opened a little door, and led Jack into a large room, where Jack saw a great many odds and ends that Coomara had picked up at one time or another. What chiefly took his attention, however, were things like lobsterpots ranged on the ground along the wall.<br />"Well, Jack, how do you like my <i>curiosities</i>?" said old Coo.<br />"Upon my <i>sowkins</i>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="fr_7"></a><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/yeats/fip/fip21.htm#fn_7"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></a> sir," said Jack, "they're mighty well worth the looking at; but might I make so bold as to ask what these things like lobster-pots are?"<br />"Oh! the Soul Cages, is it?"<br />"The what? sir!"<br />"These things here that I keep the souls in."<br />"<i>Arrah</i>! what souls, sir?" said Jack, in amazement; "sure the fish have no souls in them?"<br />"Oh! no," replied Coo, quite coolly, "that they have not; but these are the souls of drowned sailors."<br />"The Lord preserve us from all harm!" muttered lack, "how in the world did you get them?"<br /><br />"Easily enough: I've only, when I see a good storm<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_70"></a> coming on, to set a couple of dozen of these, and then, when the sailors are drowned and the souls get out of them under the water, the poor things are almost perished to death, not being used to the cold; so they make into my pots for shelter, and then I have them snug, and fetch them home, and is it not well for them, poor souls, to get into such good quarters?"<br />Jack was so thunderstruck he did not know what to say, so he said nothing. They went back into the dining-room, and had a little more brandy, which was excellent, and then, as Jack knew that it must be getting late, and as Biddy might be uneasy, he stood up, and said he thought it was time for him to be on the road.<br />"Just as you like, Jack," said Coo, "but take a <i>duc an durrus</i>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="fr_8"></a><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/yeats/fip/fip21.htm#fn_8"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></a> before you go; you've a cold journey before you."<br />Jack knew better manners than to refuse the parting glass.<br />"I wonder," said he, "will I be able to make out my way home?"<br />"What should ail you," said Coo, "when I'll show you the way?"<br />Out they went before the house, and Coomara took one of the cocked hats, and put it upon Jack's head the wrong way, and then lifted him up on his shoulder that he might launch him up into the water.<br />"Now," says he, giving him a heave, "you'll come up just in the same spot you came down in; and, Jack, mind and throw me back the hat."<br />He canted Jack off his shoulder, and up he shot like a bubble--whirr, whiff, whiz--away he went up through the water, till he came to the very rock he had jumped off where he found a landing-place, and then in he threw the hat, which sunk like a stone.<br /><br />The sun was just going down in the beautiful sky of a calm summer's evening. <i>Feascor</i> was seen dimly twinkling in the cloudless heaven, a solitary star, and the waves of the Atlantic flashed in a golden flood of light. So Jack,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_71"></a> perceiving it was late, set off home; but when he got there, not a word did he say to Biddy of where he had spent his day.<br />The state of the poor souls cooped up in the lobster-pots gave Jack a great deal of trouble, and how to release them cost him a great deal of thought. He at first had a mind to speak to the priest about the matter. But what could the priest do, and what did Coo care for the priest? Besides, Coo was a good sort of an old fellow, and did not think he was doing any harm. Jack had a regard for him, too, and it also might not be much to his own credit if it were known that he used to go dine with Merrows. On the whole, he thought his best plan would be to ask Coo to dinner, and to make him drunk, if he was able, and then to take the hat and go down and turn up the pots. It was, first of all, necessary, however, to get Biddy out of the way; for Jack was prudent enough, as she was a woman, to wish to keep the thing secret from her.<br />Accordingly, Jack grew mighty pious all of a sudden, and said to Biddy that he thought it would be for the good of both their souls if she was to go and take her rounds at Saint John's Well, near Ennis. Biddy thought so too, and accordingly off she set one fine morning at day-dawn, giving Jack a strict charge to have an eye to the place. The coast being clear, away went Jack to the rock to give the appointed signal to Coomara, which was throwing a big stone into the water. Jack threw, and up sprang Coo!<br />"Good morning, Jack," said he; "what do you want with me?"<br />"Just nothing at all to speak about, sir," returned Jack, "only to come and take a bit of dinner with me, if I might make so free as to ask you, and sure I'm now after doing so."<br />"It's quite agreeable, Jack, I assure you; what's your hour?"'<br />"Any time that's most convenient to you, sir--say one o'clock, that you may go home, if you wish, with the daylight."<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_72"><span style="color: green; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></a><br />"I'll be with you," said Coo, "never fear me."<br />Jack went home, and dressed a noble fish dinner, and got out plenty of his best foreign spirits, enough, for that matter, to make twenty men drunk. Just to the minute came Coo, with his cocked hat under his arm. Dinner was ready, they sat down, and ate and drank away manfully. Jack, thinking of the poor souls below in the pots, plied old Coo well with brandy, and encouraged him to sing, hoping to put him under the table, but poor Jack forgot that he had not the sea over his head to keep it cool. The brandy got into it, and did his business for him, and Coo reeled off home, leaving his entertainer as dumb as a haddock on a Good Friday.<br />Jack never woke till the next morning, and then he was in a sad way. "'Tis to no use for me thinking to make that old Rapparee drunk," said Jack, "and how in this world can I help the poor souls out of the lobster-pots?" After ruminating nearly the whole day, a thought struck him. "I have it," says he, slapping his knee; "I'll be sworn that Coo never saw a drop of <i>poteen</i>, as old as he is, and that's the <i>thing</i> to settle him! Oh! then, is not it well that Biddy will not be home these two days yet; I can have another twist at him."<br />Jack asked Coo again, and Coo laughed at him for having no better head, telling him he'd never come up to his grandfather.<br />"Well, but try me again," said Jack, "and I'll be bail to drink you drunk and sober, and drunk again."<br />"Anything in my power," said Coo, "to oblige you."<br />At this dinner Jack took care to have his own liquor well watered, and to give the strongest brandy he had to Coo. At last says he, "Pray, sir, did you ever drink any poteen?--any real mountain dew?"<br />"No," says Coo; "what's that, and where does it come from?"<br />"Oh, that's a secret," said Jack, "but it's the right stuff--never believe me again, if 'tis not fifty times as good as brandy or rum either. Biddy's brother just sent me a<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_73"></a> present of a little drop, in exchange for some brandy, and as you're an old friend of the family, I kept it to treat you with."<br />"Well, let's see what sort of thing it is," said Coomara.<br />The <i>poteen</i> was the right sort. It was first-rate, and had the real smack upon it. Coo was delighted: he drank and he sung <i>Rum bum boodle boo</i> over and over again; and he laughed and he danced, till he fell on the floor fast asleep. Then Jack, who had taken good care to keep himself sober, snapt up the cocked hat--ran off to the rock--leaped, and soon arrived at Coo's habitation.<br />All was as still as a churchyard at midnight--not a Merrow, old or young, was there. In he went and turned up the pots, but nothing did he see, only he heard a sort of a little whistle or chirp as he raised each of them. At this he was surprised, till he recollected what the priests had often said, that nobody living could see the soul, no more than they could see the wind or the air. Having now done all that he could for them, he set the pots as they were before, and sent a blessing after the poor souls to speed them on their journey wherever they were going. Jack now began to think of returning; he put the hat on, as was right, the wrong way; but when he got out he found the water so high over his head that he had no hopes of ever getting up into it, now that he had not old Coomara to give him a lift. He walked about looking for a ladder, but not one could he find, and not a rock was there in sight. At last he saw a spot where the sea hung rather lower than anywhere else, so he resolved to try there. Just as he came to it, a big cod happened to put down his tail. Jack made a jump and caught hold of it, and the cod, all in amazement, gave a bounce and pulled Jack up. The minute the hat touched the water away Jack was whisked, and up he shot like a cork, dragging the poor cod, that he forgot to let go, up with him tail foremost. He got to the rock in no time and without a moment's delay hurried home, rejoicing in the good deed he had done.<br />But, meanwhile, there was fine work at home; for our<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_74"></a> friend Jack had hardly left the house on his soul-freeing expedition, when back came Biddy from her soul-saving one to the well. When she entered the house and saw the things lying <i>thrie-na-helah</i>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="fr_9"></a><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/yeats/fip/fip21.htm#fn_9"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></a> on the table before her--"Here's a pretty job!" said she; "that blackguard of mine--what ill-luck I had ever to marry him! He has picked up some vagabond or other, while I was praying for the good of his soul, and they've been drinking all the <i>poteen</i> that my own brother gave him, and all the spirits, to be sure, that he was to have sold to his honour." Then hearing an outlandish kind of grunt, she looked down, and saw Coomara lying under the table. "The Blessed Virgin help me," shouted she, "if he has not made a real beast of himself! Well, well, I've often heard of a man making a beast of himself with drink! Oh hone, oh hone!--Jack, honey, what will I do with you, or what will I do without you? How can any decent woman ever think of living with a beast?"<br />With such like lamentations Biddy rushed out of the house, and was going she knew not where, when she heard the well-known voice of Jack singing a merry tune. Glad enough was Biddy to find him safe and sound, and not turned into a thing that was like neither fish nor flesh. Jack was obliged to tell her all, and Biddy, though she had half a mind to be angry with him for not telling her before, owned that he had done a great service to the poor souls. Back they both went most lovingly to the house, and Jack wakened up Coomara; and, perceiving the old fellow to be rather dull, he bid him not to be cast down, for 'twas many a good man's case; said it all came of his not being used to the <i>poteen</i>, and recommended him, by way of cure, to swallow a hair of the dog that bit him. Coo, however, seemed to think he had had quite enough. He got up, quite out of sorts, and without having the manners to say one word in the way of civility, he sneaked off to cool himself by a jaunt through the salt water.<br /><br />Coomara, never missed the souls. He and Jack continued<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1409349299341838873" name="page_75"></a> the best friends in the world, and no one, perhaps, ever equalled Jack for freeing souls from purgatory; for he contrived fifty excuses for getting into the house below the sea, unknown to the old fellow, and then turning up the pots and letting out the souls. It vexed him, to be sure, that he could never see them; but as he knew the thing to be impossible, he was obliged to be satisfied.<br />Their intercourse continued for several years. However, one morning, on Jack's throwing in a stone as usual, he got no answer. He flung another, and another, still there was no reply. He went away, and returned the following morning, but it was to no purpose. As he was without the hat, he could not go down to see what had become of old Coo, but his belief was, that the old man, or the old fish, or whatever he was, had either died, or had removed from that part of the country.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The translation of this story was taken from this website (chock full of free reading),&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm">Internet Sacred Text Archive</a>.&nbsp;</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/bClaEBO2_wA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/soul-cages-by-thomas-crofton-croker.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-21108342170554667452011-05-03T19:36:00.000-07:002011-05-03T19:36:38.298-07:00A Life Beneath the Briny Sea, the Life of a Mermaid For Me!<span style="font-size: large;">Life Magazine mermaids; for all those mermaids out there who love life!&nbsp; :D</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Emmett Watson; August</div><div style="text-align: center;">(This is the one that always hung on the wall in our kitchen when I was little) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg4upjnlDVk/TcC1WD8MKhI/AAAAAAAAAUo/X3BGhB2N6aU/s1600/life+mag+mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg4upjnlDVk/TcC1WD8MKhI/AAAAAAAAAUo/X3BGhB2N6aU/s320/life+mag+mermaid.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">June</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GBsge17jWo/TcC1fUgKvHI/AAAAAAAAAUw/eHOWoP6s6_w/s1600/life+mermaid+magazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GBsge17jWo/TcC1fUgKvHI/AAAAAAAAAUw/eHOWoP6s6_w/s320/life+mermaid+magazine.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InYeAI6sEwg/TcC1fpppYHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/Y10J7bVg5h0/s1600/life+mermaid+yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InYeAI6sEwg/TcC1fpppYHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/Y10J7bVg5h0/s320/life+mermaid+yellow.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">July</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aK8WcOVlnyg/TcC1ghtoUGI/AAAAAAAAAU4/DJfeEoX2nyA/s1600/life+mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aK8WcOVlnyg/TcC1ghtoUGI/AAAAAAAAAU4/DJfeEoX2nyA/s320/life+mermaid.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Beware of Submarines</i>; April 19, 1917</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KAevZKp8PnU/TcC1kRrW4cI/AAAAAAAAAVE/oOzMNdq-pfk/s1600/life_mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KAevZKp8PnU/TcC1kRrW4cI/AAAAAAAAAVE/oOzMNdq-pfk/s320/life_mermaid.jpg" width="264" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">July 7, 1921</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrsTxZrd7go/TcC1jJedVsI/AAAAAAAAAVA/mLt2-AeKISg/s1600/life+sailor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrsTxZrd7go/TcC1jJedVsI/AAAAAAAAAVA/mLt2-AeKISg/s320/life+sailor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click the links beneath if you'd like to see some more Life mermaids!-couldn't post them on Melusina-Mermaid, because of the watermarks.&nbsp; Anyway, they have a lovely site chock full of vintage magazines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><a href="http://www.periodpaper.com/index.php/subject-period-art/mythical-fantasy/1919-cover-august-life-mermaid-man-fantasy-otho-cushing">Period Paper Mermaid, Life 1919, illustrated by Otho Cushing</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.periodpaper.com/index.php/art-type/magazine-cover/1919-cover-life-mermaid-sea-woman-swimmer-paul-goold">Period Paper Mermaids, Life 1919, illustrated Paul Goold</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/ZLfHhVp-C6o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/05/life-beneath-briny-sea-life-of-mermaid.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-13092123464259623752011-04-20T22:06:00.000-07:002011-04-20T22:06:53.492-07:00The Little Mermaid, Andersen, Leibovitz, & Disney<span style="font-size: large;">I can already smell the briny, sea air!&nbsp; :D&nbsp; The photos just wreak of gorgeousness!&nbsp; These are just two in the Disney Portrait Series, taken by Annie Leibovitz. </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Actress Julianne Moore channeling the sea siren.&nbsp; Isn't she breathtaking?&nbsp; That red hair!&nbsp; And that's Olympian, Michael Phelps swimming by.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Another World is Just a Wish Away</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVuwbuded4c/Ta-1WeG3UWI/AAAAAAAAAUc/5bzLHc2IZ0U/s1600/32800-hi-Ariel-Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVuwbuded4c/Ta-1WeG3UWI/AAAAAAAAAUc/5bzLHc2IZ0U/s320/32800-hi-Ariel-Final.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iTOl2E35taw?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Both gorgeous &amp; scary gorgeous (have I over-used the word yet?), Queen Latifah as the wicked Ursula!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Memories Take Hold &amp; Never Let Go</i>&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kny8-v7KopY/Ta-4DcRz4LI/AAAAAAAAAUg/NjZN4T9kPFg/s1600/annie+leibovitz+ursula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kny8-v7KopY/Ta-4DcRz4LI/AAAAAAAAAUg/NjZN4T9kPFg/s320/annie+leibovitz+ursula.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lhV8pgpx9iE?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/SPacPK14G8U" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com8http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/04/little-mermaid-andersen-leibovitz.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409349299341838873.post-148127982355310572011-04-14T20:34:00.000-07:002011-04-14T20:34:33.631-07:00The Fisherman & His Soul by Oscar Wilde<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jessie M. King, The Fisherman &amp; His Soul</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiQufDJjzAM/Tae6k0LbIcI/AAAAAAAAAUU/uObuvx-kK3U/s1600/jessiemking-fisherman+and+his+soul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiQufDJjzAM/Tae6k0LbIcI/AAAAAAAAAUU/uObuvx-kK3U/s320/jessiemking-fisherman+and+his+soul.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>&nbsp;</i></span> </span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I remember the fairy stories of Oscar Wilde&nbsp; (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) from way back when I was a little girl; then for the longest time his fairy tales had become only fuzzy, muddled memories, where I remembered the plots, but not the name of the man who had written them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This is his fairy tale, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's own Little Mermaid, which is called, <i>The Fisherman &amp; His Soul</i>.&nbsp; It was one of several in the book published as, <i>A House of Pomegranates</i>.&nbsp; That sounds delicious!</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="story">Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea, and threw his nets into the water. </div><div class="story">When the wind blew from the land he caught nothing, or but little at best, for it was a bitter and black-winged wind, and rough waves rose up to meet it. But when the wind blew to the shore, the fish came in from the deep, and swam into the meshes of his nets, and he took them to the market-place and sold them. </div><div class="story">Every evening he went out upon the sea, and one evening the net was so heavy that hardly could he draw it into the boat. And he laughed, and said to himself, 'Surely I have caught all the fish that swim, or snared some dull monster that will be a marvel to men, or some thing of horror that the great Queen will desire,' and putting forth all his strength, he tugged at the coarse ropes till, like lines of blue enamel round a vase of bronze, the long veins rose up on his arms. He tugged at the thin ropes, and nearer and nearer came the circle of flat corks, and the net rose at last to the top of the water. </div><div class="story">But no fish at all was in it, nor any monster or thing of horror, but only a little Mermaid lying fast asleep. </div><div class="story">Her hair was as a wet fleece of gold, and each separate hair as a thread of fine gold in a cup of glass. Her body was as white ivory, and her tail was of silver and pearl. Silver and pearl was her tail, and the green weeds of the sea coiled round it; and like sea-shells were her ears, and her lips were like sea-coral. The cold waves dashed over her cold breasts, and the salt glistened upon her eyelids. </div><div class="story">So beautiful was she that when the young Fisherman saw her he was filled with wonder, and he put out his hand and drew the net close to him, and leaning over the side he clasped her in his arms. And when he touched her, she gave a cry like a startled sea-gull, and woke, and looked at him in terror with her mauve-amethyst eyes, and struggled that she might escape. But he held her tightly to him, and would not suffer her to depart. </div><div class="story">And when she saw that she could in no way escape from him, she began to weep, and said, 'I pray thee let me go, for I am the only daughter of a King, and my father is aged and alone.' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman answered, 'I will not let thee go save thou makest me a promise that whenever I call thee, thou wilt come and sing to me, for the fish delight to listen to the song of the Sea- folk, and so shall my nets be full.' </div><div class="story">'Wilt thou in very truth let me go, if I promise thee this?' cried the Mermaid. </div><div class="story">'In very truth I will let thee go,' said the young Fisherman. </div><div class="story">So she made him the promise he desired, and sware it by the oath of the Sea-folk. And he loosened his arms from about her, and she sank down into the water, trembling with a strange fear. </div><div class="story">Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea, and called to the Mermaid, and she rose out of the water and sang to him. Round and round her swam the dolphins, and the wild gulls wheeled above her head. </div><div class="story">And she sang a marvellous song. For she sang of the Sea-folk who drive their flocks from cave to cave, and carry the little calves on their shoulders; of the Tritons who have long green beards, and hairy breasts, and blow through twisted conchs when the King passes by; of the palace of the King which is all of amber, with a roof of clear emerald, and a pavement of bright pearl; and of the gardens of the sea where the great filigrane fans of coral wave all day long, and the fish dart about like silver birds, and the anemones cling to the rocks, and the pinks bourgeon in the ribbed yellow sand. She sang of the big whales that come down from the north seas and have sharp icicles hanging to their fins; of the Sirens who tell of such wonderful things that the merchants have to stop their ears with wax lest they should hear them, and leap into the water and be drowned; of the sunken galleys with their tall masts, and the frozen sailors clinging to the rigging, and the mackerel swimming in and out of the open portholes; of the little barnacles who are great travellers, and cling to the keels of the ships and go round and round the world; and of the cuttlefish who live in the sides of the cliffs and stretch out their long black arms, and can make night come when they will it. She sang of the nautilus who has a boat of her own that is carved out of an opal and steered with a silken sail; of the happy Mermen who play upon harps and can charm the great Kraken to sleep; of the little children who catch hold of the slippery porpoises and ride laughing upon their backs; of the Mermaids who lie in the white foam and hold out their arms to the mariners; and of the sea-lions with their curved tusks, and the sea-horses with their floating manes. </div><div class="story">And as she sang, all the tunny-fish came in from the deep to listen to her, and the young Fisherman threw his nets round them and caught them, and others he took with a spear. And when his boat was well-laden, the Mermaid would sink down into the sea, smiling at him. </div><div class="story">Yet would she never come near him that he might touch her. Oftentimes he called to her and prayed of her, but she would not; and when he sought to seize her she dived into the water as a seal might dive, nor did he see her again that day. And each day the sound of her voice became sweeter to his ears. So sweet was her voice that he forgot his nets and his cunning, and had no care of his craft. Vermilion-finned and with eyes of bossy gold, the tunnies went by in shoals, but he heeded them not. His spear lay by his side unused, and his baskets of plaited osier were empty. With lips parted, and eyes dim with wonder, he sat idle in his boat and listened, listening till the sea-mists crept round him, and the wandering moon stained his brown limbs with silver. </div><div class="story">And one evening he called to her, and said: 'Little Mermaid, little Mermaid, I love thee. Take me for thy bridegroom, for I love thee.' </div><div class="story">But the Mermaid shook her head. 'Thou hast a human soul,' she answered. 'If only thou wouldst send away thy soul, then could I love thee.' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman said to himself, 'Of what use is my soul to me? I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it. Surely I will send it away from me, and much gladness shall be mine.' And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and standing up in the painted boat, he held out his arms to the Mermaid. 'I will send my soul away,' he cried, 'and you shall be my bride, and I will be thy bridegroom, and in the depth of the sea we will dwell together, and all that thou hast sung of thou shalt show me, and all that thou desirest I will do, nor shall our lives be divided.' </div><div class="story">And the little Mermaid laughed for pleasure and hid her face in her hands. </div><div class="story">'But how shall I send my soul from me?' cried the young Fisherman. 'Tell me how I may do it, and lo! it shall be done.' </div><div class="story">'Alas! I know not,' said the little Mermaid: 'the Sea-folk have no souls.' And she sank down into the deep, looking wistfully at him. </div><div class="story">Now early on the next morning, before the sun was the span of a man's hand above the hill, the young Fisherman went to the house of the Priest and knocked three times at the door. </div><div class="story">The novice looked out through the wicket, and when he saw who it was, he drew back the latch and said to him, 'Enter.' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman passed in, and knelt down on the sweet- smelling rushes of the floor, and cried to the Priest who was reading out of the Holy Book and said to him, 'Father, I am in love with one of the Sea-folk, and my soul hindereth me from having my desire. Tell me how I can send my soul away from me, for in truth I have no need of it. Of what value is my soul to me? I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it.' </div><div class="story">And the Priest beat his breast, and answered, 'Alack, alack, thou art mad, or hast eaten of some poisonous herb, for the soul is the noblest part of man, and was given to us by God that we should nobly use it. There is no thing more precious than a human soul, nor any earthly thing that can be weighed with it. It is worth all the gold that is in the world, and is more precious than the rubies of the kings. Therefore, my son, think not any more of this matter, for it is a sin that may not be forgiven. And as for the Sea-folk, they are lost, and they who would traffic with them are lost also. They are as the beasts of the field that know not good from evil, and for them the Lord has not died.' </div><div class="story">The young Fisherman's eyes filled with tears when he heard the bitter words of the Priest, and he rose up from his knees and said to him, 'Father, the Fauns live in the forest and are glad, and on the rocks sit the Mermen with their harps of red gold. Let me be as they are, I beseech thee, for their days are as the days of flowers. And as for my soul, what doth my soul profit me, if it stand between me and the thing that I love?' </div><div class="story">'The love of the body is vile,' cried the Priest, knitting his brows, 'and vile and evil are the pagan things God suffers to wander through His world. Accursed be the Fauns of the woodland, and accursed be the singers of the sea! I have heard them at night-time, and they have sought to lure me from my beads. They tap at the window, and laugh. They whisper into my ears the tale of their perilous joys. They tempt me with temptations, and when I would pray they make mouths at me. They are lost, I tell thee, they are lost. For them there is no heaven nor hell, and in neither shall they praise God's name.' </div><div class="story">'Father,' cried the young Fisherman, 'thou knowest not what thou sayest. Once in my net I snared the daughter of a King. She is fairer than the morning star, and whiter than the moon. For her body I would give my soul, and for her love I would surrender heaven. Tell me what I ask of thee, and let me go in peace.' </div><div class="story">'Away! Away!' cried the Priest: 'thy leman is lost, and thou shalt be lost with her.' </div><div class="story">And he gave him no blessing, but drove him from his door. </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman went down into the market-place, and he walked slowly, and with bowed head, as one who is in sorrow. </div><div class="story">And when the merchants saw him coming, they began to whisper to each other, and one of them came forth to meet him, and called him by name, and said to him, 'What hast thou to sell?' </div><div class="story">'I will sell thee my soul,' he answered. 'I pray thee buy it of me, for I am weary of it. Of what use is my soul to me? I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it.' </div><div class="story">But the merchants mocked at him, and said, 'Of what use is a man's soul to us? It is not worth a clipped piece of silver. Sell us thy body for a slave, and we will clothe thee in sea-purple, and put a ring upon thy finger, and make thee the minion of the great Queen. But talk not of the soul, for to us it is nought, nor has it any value for our service.' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman said to himself: 'How strange a thing this is! The Priest telleth me that the soul is worth all the gold in the world, and the merchants say that it is not worth a clipped piece of silver.' And he passed out of the market-place, and went down to the shore of the sea, and began to ponder on what he should do. </div><div class="story">And at noon he remembered how one of his companions, who was a gatherer of samphire, had told him of a certain young Witch who dwelt in a cave at the head of the bay and was very cunning in her witcheries. And he set to and ran, so eager was he to get rid of his soul, and a cloud of dust followed him as he sped round the sand of the shore. By the itching of her palm the young Witch knew his coming, and she laughed and let down her red hair. With her red hair falling around her, she stood at the opening of the cave, and in her hand she had a spray of wild hemlock that was blossoming. </div><div class="story">'What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack?' she cried, as he came panting up the steep, and bent down before her. 'Fish for thy net, when the wind is foul? I have a little reed-pipe, and when I blow on it the mullet come sailing into the bay. But it has a price, pretty boy, it has a price. What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack? A storm to wreck the ships, and wash the chests of rich treasure ashore? I have more storms than the wind has, for I serve one who is stronger than the wind, and with a sieve and a pail of water I can send the great galleys to the bottom of the sea. But I have a price, pretty boy, I have a price. What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack? I know a flower that grows in the valley, none knows it but I. It has purple leaves, and a star in its heart, and its juice is as white as milk. Shouldst thou touch with this flower the hard lips of the Queen, she would follow thee all over the world. Out of the bed of the King she would rise, and over the whole world she would follow thee. And it has a price, pretty boy, it has a price. What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack? I can pound a toad in a mortar, and make broth of it, and stir the broth with a dead man's hand. Sprinkle it on thine enemy while he sleeps, and he will turn into a black viper, and his own mother will slay him. With a wheel I can draw the Moon from heaven, and in a crystal I can show thee Death. What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack? Tell me thy desire, and I will give it thee, and thou shalt pay me a price, pretty boy, thou shalt pay me a price.' </div><div class="story">'My desire is but for a little thing,' said the young Fisherman, 'yet hath the Priest been wroth with me, and driven me forth. It is but for a little thing, and the merchants have mocked at me, and denied me. Therefore am I come to thee, though men call thee evil, and whatever be thy price I shall pay it.' </div><div class="story">'What wouldst thou?' asked the Witch, coming near to him. </div><div class="story">'I would send my soul away from me,' answered the young Fisherman. </div><div class="story">The Witch grew pale, and shuddered, and hid her face in her blue mantle. 'Pretty boy, pretty boy,' she muttered, 'that is a terrible thing to do.' </div><div class="story">He tossed his brown curls and laughed. 'My soul is nought to me,' he answered. 'I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it.' </div><div class="story">'What wilt thou give me if I tell thee?' asked the Witch, looking down at him with her beautiful eyes. </div><div class="story">'Five pieces of gold,' he said, 'and my nets, and the wattled house where I live, and the painted boat in which I sail. Only tell me how to get rid of my soul, and I will give thee all that I possess.' </div><div class="story">She laughed mockingly at him, and struck him with the spray of hemlock. 'I can turn the autumn leaves into gold,' she answered, 'and I can weave the pale moonbeams into silver if I will it. He whom I serve is richer than all the kings of this world, and has their dominions.' </div><div class="story">'What then shall I give thee,' he cried, 'if thy price be neither gold nor silver?' </div><div class="story">The Witch stroked his hair with her thin white hand. 'Thou must dance with me, pretty boy,' she murmured, and she smiled at him as she spoke. </div><div class="story">'Nought but that?' cried the young Fisherman in wonder and he rose to his feet. </div><div class="story">'Nought but that,' she answered, and she smiled at him again. </div><div class="story">'Then at sunset in some secret place we shall dance together,' he said, 'and after that we have danced thou shalt tell me the thing which I desire to know.' </div><div class="story">She shook her head. 'When the moon is full, when the moon is full,' she muttered. Then she peered all round, and listened. A blue bird rose screaming from its nest and circled over the dunes, and three spotted birds rustled through the coarse grey grass and whistled to each other. There was no other sound save the sound of a wave fretting the smooth pebbles below. So she reached out her hand, and drew him near to her and put her dry lips close to his ear. </div><div class="story">'To-night thou must come to the top of the mountain,' she whispered. 'It is a Sabbath, and He will be there.' </div><div class="story">The young Fisherman started and looked at her, and she showed her white teeth and laughed. 'Who is He of whom thou speakest?' he asked. </div><div class="story">'It matters not,' she answered. 'Go thou to-night, and stand under the branches of the hornbeam, and wait for my coming. If a black dog run towards thee, strike it with a rod of willow, and it will go away. If an owl speak to thee, make it no answer. When the moon is full I shall be with thee, and we will dance together on the grass.' </div><div class="story">'But wilt thou swear to me to tell me how I may send my soul from me?' he made question. </div><div class="story">She moved out into the sunlight, and through her red hair rippled the wind. 'By the hoofs of the goat I swear it,' she made answer. </div><div class="story">'Thou art the best of the witches,' cried the young Fisherman, 'and I will surely dance with thee to-night on the top of the mountain. I would indeed that thou hadst asked of me either gold or silver. But such as thy price is thou shalt have it, for it is but a little thing.' And he doffed his cap to her, and bent his head low, and ran back to the town filled with a great joy. </div><div class="story">And the Witch watched him as he went, and when he had passed from her sight she entered her cave, and having taken a mirror from a box of carved cedarwood, she set it up on a frame, and burned vervain on lighted charcoal before it, and peered through the coils of the smoke. And after a time she clenched her hands in anger. 'He should have been mine,' she muttered, 'I am as fair as she is.' </div><div class="story">And that evening, when the moon had risen, the young Fisherman climbed up to the top of the mountain, and stood under the branches of the hornbeam. Like a targe of polished metal the round sea lay at his feet, and the shadows of the fishing-boats moved in the little bay. A great owl, with yellow sulphurous eyes, called to him by his name, but he made it no answer. A black dog ran towards him and snarled. He struck it with a rod of willow, and it went away whining. </div><div class="story">At midnight the witches came flying through the air like bats. 'Phew!' they cried, as they lit upon the ground, 'there is some one here we know not!' and they sniffed about, and chattered to each other, and made signs. Last of all came the young Witch, with her red hair streaming in the wind. She wore a dress of gold tissue embroidered with peacocks' eyes, and a little cap of green velvet was on her head. </div><div class="story">'Where is he, where is he?' shrieked the witches when they saw her, but she only laughed, and ran to the hornbeam, and taking the Fisherman by the hand she led him out into the moonlight and began to dance. </div><div class="story">Round and round they whirled, and the young Witch jumped so high that he could see the scarlet heels of her shoes. Then right across the dancers came the sound of the galloping of a horse, but no horse was to be seen, and he felt afraid. </div><div class="story">'Faster,' cried the Witch, and she threw her arms about his neck, and her breath was hot upon his face. 'Faster, faster!' she cried, and the earth seemed to spin beneath his feet, and his brain grew troubled, and a great terror fell on him, as of some evil thing that was watching him, and at last he became aware that under the shadow of a rock there was a figure that had not been there before. </div><div class="story">It was a man dressed in a suit of black velvet, cut in the Spanish fashion. His face was strangely pale, but his lips were like a proud red flower. He seemed weary, and was leaning back toying in a listless manner with the pommel of his dagger. On the grass beside him lay a plumed hat, and a pair of riding-gloves gauntleted with gilt lace, and sewn with seed-pearls wrought into a curious device. A short cloak lined with sables hang from his shoulder, and his delicate white hands were gemmed with rings. Heavy eyelids drooped over his eyes. </div><div class="story">The young Fisherman watched him, as one snared in a spell. At last their eyes met, and wherever he danced it seemed to him that the eyes of the man were upon him. He heard the Witch laugh, and caught her by the waist, and whirled her madly round and round. </div><div class="story">Suddenly a dog bayed in the wood, and the dancers stopped, and going up two by two, knelt down, and kissed the man's hands. As they did so, a little smile touched his proud lips, as a bird's wing touches the water and makes it laugh. But there was disdain in it. He kept looking at the young Fisherman. </div><div class="story">'Come! let us worship,' whispered the Witch, and she led him up, and a great desire to do as she besought him seized on him, and he followed her. But when he came close, and without knowing why he did it, he made on his breast the sign of the Cross, and called upon the holy name. </div><div class="story">No sooner had he done so than the witches screamed like hawks and flew away, and the pallid face that had been watching him twitched with a spasm of pain. The man went over to a little wood, and whistled. A jennet with silver trappings came running to meet him. As he leapt upon the saddle he turned round, and looked at the young Fisherman sadly. </div><div class="story">And the Witch with the red hair tried to fly away also, but the Fisherman caught her by her wrists, and held her fast. </div><div class="story">'Loose me,' she cried, 'and let me go. For thou hast named what should not be named, and shown the sign that may not be looked at.' </div><div class="story">'Nay,' he answered, 'but I will not let thee go till thou hast told me the secret.' </div><div class="story">'What secret?' said the Witch, wrestling with him like a wild cat, and biting her foam-flecked lips. </div><div class="story">'Thou knowest,' he made answer. </div><div class="story">Her grass-green eyes grew dim with tears, and she said to the Fisherman, 'Ask me anything but that!' </div><div class="story">He laughed, and held her all the more tightly. </div><div class="story">And when she saw that she could not free herself, she whispered to him, 'Surely I am as fair as the daughters of the sea, and as comely as those that dwell in the blue waters,' and she fawned on him and put her face close to his. </div><div class="story">But he thrust her back frowning, and said to her, 'If thou keepest not the promise that thou madest to me I will slay thee for a false witch.' </div><div class="story">She grew grey as a blossom of the Judas tree, and shuddered. 'Be it so,' she muttered. 'It is thy soul and not mine. Do with it as thou wilt.' And she took from her girdle a little knife that had a handle of green viper's skin, and gave it to him. </div><div class="story">'What shall this serve me?' he asked of her, wondering. </div><div class="story">She was silent for a few moments, and a look of terror came over her face. Then she brushed her hair back from her forehead, and smiling strangely she said to him, 'What men call the shadow of the body is not the shadow of the body, but is the body of the soul. Stand on the sea-shore with thy back to the moon, and cut away from around thy feet thy shadow, which is thy soul's body, and bid thy soul leave thee, and it will do so.' </div><div class="story">The young Fisherman trembled. 'Is this true?' he murmured. </div><div class="story">'It is true, and I would that I had not told thee of it,' she cried, and she clung to his knees weeping. </div><div class="story">He put her from him and left her in the rank grass, and going to the edge of the mountain he placed the knife in his belt and began to climb down. </div><div class="story">And his Soul that was within him called out to him and said, 'Lo! I have dwelt with thee for all these years, and have been thy servant. Send me not away from thee now, for what evil have I done thee?' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman laughed. 'Thou hast done me no evil, but I have no need of thee,' he answered. 'The world is wide, and there is Heaven also, and Hell, and that dim twilight house that lies between. Go wherever thou wilt, but trouble me not, for my love is calling to me.' </div><div class="story">And his Soul besought him piteously, but he heeded it not, but leapt from crag to crag, being sure-footed as a wild goat, and at last he reached the level ground and the yellow shore of the sea. </div><div class="story">Bronze-limbed and well-knit, like a statue wrought by a Grecian, he stood on the sand with his back to the moon, and out of the foam came white arms that beckoned to him, and out of the waves rose dim forms that did him homage. Before him lay his shadow, which was the body of his soul, and behind him hung the moon in the honey- coloured air. </div><div class="story">And his Soul said to him, 'If indeed thou must drive me from thee, send me not forth without a heart. The world is cruel, give me thy heart to take with me.' </div><div class="story">He tossed his head and smiled. 'With what should I love my love if I gave thee my heart?' he cried. </div><div class="story">'Nay, but be merciful,' said his Soul: 'give me thy heart, for the world is very cruel, and I am afraid.' </div><div class="story">'My heart is my love's,' he answered, 'therefore tarry not, but get thee gone.' </div><div class="story">'Should I not love also?' asked his Soul. </div><div class="story">'Get thee gone, for I have no need of thee,' cried the young Fisherman, and he took the little knife with its handle of green viper's skin, and cut away his shadow from around his feet, and it rose up and stood before him, and looked at him, and it was even as himself. </div><div class="story">He crept back, and thrust the knife into his belt, and a feeling of awe came over him. 'Get thee gone,' he murmured, 'and let me see thy face no more.' </div><div class="story">'Nay, but we must meet again,' said the Soul. Its voice was low and flute-like, and its lips hardly moved while it spake. </div><div class="story">'How shall we meet?' cried the young Fisherman. 'Thou wilt not follow me into the depths of the sea?' </div><div class="story">'Once every year I will come to this place, and call to thee,' said the Soul. 'It may be that thou wilt have need of me.' </div><div class="story">'What need should I have of thee?' cried the young Fisherman, 'but be it as thou wilt,' and he plunged into the waters and the Tritons blew their horns and the little Mermaid rose up to meet him, and put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. </div><div class="story">And the Soul stood on the lonely beach and watched them. And when they had sunk down into the sea, it went weeping away over the marshes. </div><div class="story">And after a year was over the Soul came down to the shore of the sea and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep, and said, 'Why dost thou call to me?' </div><div class="story">And the Soul answered, 'Come nearer, that I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things.' </div><div class="story">So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened. </div><div class="story">And the Soul said to him, 'When I left thee I turned my face to the East and journeyed. From the East cometh everything that is wise. Six days I journeyed, and on the morning of the seventh day I came to a hill that is in the country of the Tartars. I sat down under the shade of a tamarisk tree to shelter myself from the sun. The land was dry and burnt up with the heat. The people went to and fro over the plain like flies crawling upon a disk of polished copper. </div><div class="story">'When it was noon a cloud of red dust rose up from the flat rim of the land. When the Tartars saw it, they strung their painted bows, and having leapt upon their little horses they galloped to meet it. The women fled screaming to the waggons, and hid themselves behind the felt curtains. </div><div class="story">'At twilight the Tartars returned, but five of them were missing, and of those that came back not a few had been wounded. They harnessed their horses to the waggons and drove hastily away. Three jackals came out of a cave and peered after them. Then they sniffed up the air with their nostrils, and trotted off in the opposite direction. </div><div class="story">'When the moon rose I saw a camp-fire burning on the plain, and went towards it. A company of merchants were seated round it on carpets. Their camels were picketed behind them, and the negroes who were their servants were pitching tents of tanned skin upon the sand, and making a high wall of the prickly pear. </div><div class="story">'As I came near them, the chief of the merchants rose up and drew his sword, and asked me my business. </div><div class="story">'I answered that I was a Prince in my own land, and that I had escaped from the Tartars, who had sought to make me their slave. The chief smiled, and showed me five heads fixed upon long reeds of bamboo. </div><div class="story">'Then he asked me who was the prophet of God, and I answered him Mohammed. </div><div class="story">'When he heard the name of the false prophet, he bowed and took me by the hand, and placed me by his side. A negro brought me some mare's milk in a wooden dish, and a piece of lamb's flesh roasted. 'At daybreak we started on our journey. I rode on a red-haired camel by the side of the chief, and a runner ran before us carrying a spear. The men of war were on either hand, and the mules followed with the merchandise. There were forty camels in the caravan, and the mules were twice forty in number. </div><div class="story">'We went from the country of the Tartars into the country of those who curse the Moon. We saw the Gryphons guarding their gold on the white rocks, and the scaled Dragons sleeping in their caves. As we passed over the mountains we held our breath lest the snows might fall on us, and each man tied a veil of gauze before his eyes. As we passed through the valleys the Pygmies shot arrows at us from the hollows of the trees, and at night-time we heard the wild men beating on their drums. When we came to the Tower of Apes we set fruits before them, and they did not harm us. When we came to the Tower of Serpents we gave them warm milk in howls of brass, and they let us go by. Three times in our journey we came to the banks of the Oxus. We crossed it on rafts of wood with great bladders of blown hide. The river-horses raged against us and sought to slay us. When the camels saw them they trembled. </div><div class="story">'The kings of each city levied tolls on us, but would not suffer us to enter their gates. They threw us bread over the walls, little maize-cakes baked in honey and cakes of fine flour filled with dates. For every hundred baskets we gave them a bead of amber. </div><div class="story">'When the dwellers in the villages saw us coming, they poisoned the wells and fled to the hill-summits. We fought with the Magadae who are born old, and grow younger and younger every year, and die when they are little children; and with the Laktroi who say that they are the sons of tigers, and paint themselves yellow and black; and with the Aurantes who bury their dead on the tops of trees, and themselves live in dark caverns lest the Sun, who is their god, should slay them; and with the Krimnians who worship a crocodile, and give it earrings of green glass, and feed it with butter and fresh fowls; and with the Agazonbae, who are dog-faced; and with the Sibans, who have horses' feet, and run more swiftly than horses. A third of our company died in battle, and a third died of want. The rest murmured against me, and said that I had brought them an evil fortune. I took a horned adder from beneath a stone and let it sting me. When they saw that I did not sicken they grew afraid. </div><div class="story">'In the fourth month we reached the city of Illel. It was night- time when we came to the grove that is outside the walls, and the air was sultry, for the Moon was travelling in Scorpion. We took the ripe pomegranates from the trees, and brake them, and drank their sweet juices. Then we lay down on our carpets, and waited for the dawn. </div><div class="story">'And at dawn we rose and knocked at the gate of the city. It was wrought out of red bronze, and carved with sea-dragons and dragons that have wings. The guards looked down from the battlements and asked us our business. The interpreter of the caravan answered that we had come from the island of Syria with much merchandise. They took hostages, and told us that they would open the gate to us at noon, and bade us tarry till then. </div><div class="story">'When it was noon they opened the gate, and as we entered in the people came crowding out of the houses to look at us, and a crier went round the city crying through a shell. We stood in the market-place, and the negroes uncorded the bales of figured cloths and opened the carved chests of sycamore. And when they had ended their task, the merchants set forth their strange wares, the waxed linen from Egypt and the painted linen from the country of the Ethiops, the purple sponges from Tyre and the blue hangings from Sidon, the cups of cold amber and the fine vessels of glass and the curious vessels of burnt clay. From the roof of a house a company of women watched us. One of them wore a mask of gilded leather. </div><div class="story">'And on the first day the priests came and bartered with us, and on the second day came the nobles, and on the third day came the craftsmen and the slaves. And this is their custom with all merchants as long as they tarry in the city. </div><div class="story">'And we tarried for a moon, and when the moon was waning, I wearied and wandered away through the streets of the city and came to the garden of its god. The priests in their yellow robes moved silently through the green trees, and on a pavement of black marble stood the rose-red house in which the god had his dwelling. Its doors were of powdered lacquer, and bulls and peacocks were wrought on them in raised and polished gold. The tilted roof was of sea- green porcelain, and the jutting eaves were festooned with little bells. When the white doves flew past, they struck the bells with their wings and made them tinkle. </div><div class="story">'In front of the temple was a pool of clear water paved with veined onyx. I lay down beside it, and with my pale fingers I touched the broad leaves. One of the priests came towards me and stood behind me. He had sandals on his feet, one of soft serpent-skin and the other of birds' plumage. On his head was a mitre of black felt decorated with silver crescents. Seven yellows were woven into his robe, and his frizzed hair was stained with antimony. </div><div class="story">'After a little while he spake to me, and asked me my desire. </div><div class="story">'I told him that my desire was to see the god. </div><div class="story">'"The god is hunting," said the priest, looking strangely at me with his small slanting eyes. </div><div class="story">'"Tell me in what forest, and I will ride with him," I answered. </div><div class="story">'He combed out the soft fringes of his tunic with his long pointed nails. "The god is asleep," he murmured. </div><div class="story">'"Tell me on what couch, and I will watch by him," I answered. </div><div class="story">'"The god is at the feast," he cried. </div><div class="story">'"If the wine be sweet I will drink it with him, and if it be bitter I will drink it with him also," was my answer. </div><div class="story">'He bowed his head in wonder, and, taking me by the hand, he raised me up, and led me into the temple. </div><div class="story">'And in the first chamber I saw an idol seated on a throne of jasper bordered with great orient pearls. It was carved out of ebony, and in stature was of the stature of a man. On its forehead was a ruby, and thick oil dripped from its hair on to its thighs. Its feet were red with the blood of a newly-slain kid, and its loins girt with a copper belt that was studded with seven beryls. </div><div class="story">'And I said to the priest, "Is this the god?" And he answered me, "This is the god." </div><div class="story">'"Show me the god," I cried, "or I will surely slay thee." And I touched his hand, and it became withered. </div><div class="story">'And the priest besought me, saying, "Let my lord heal his servant, and I will show him the god." </div><div class="story">'So I breathed with my breath upon his hand, and it became whole again, and he trembled and led me into the second chamber, and I saw an idol standing on a lotus of jade hung with great emeralds. It was carved out of ivory, and in stature was twice the stature of a man. On its forehead was a chrysolite, and its breasts were smeared with myrrh and cinnamon. In one hand it held a crooked sceptre of jade, and in the other a round crystal. It ware buskins of brass, and its thick neck was circled with a circle of selenites. </div><div class="story">'And I said to the priest, "Is this the god?" </div><div class="story">'And he answered me, "This is the god." </div><div class="story">'"Show me the god," I cried, "or I will surely slay thee." And I touched his eyes, and they became blind. </div><div class="story">'And the priest besought me, saying, "Let my lord heal his servant, and I will show him the god." </div><div class="story">'So I breathed with my breath upon his eyes, and the sight came back to them, and he trembled again, and led me into the third chamber, and lo! there was no idol in it, nor image of any kind, but only a mirror of round metal set on an altar of stone. </div><div class="story">'And I said to the priest, "Where is the god?" </div><div class="story">'And he answered me: "There is no god but this mirror that thou seest, for this is the Mirror of Wisdom. And it reflecteth all things that are in heaven and on earth, save only the face of him who looketh into it. This it reflecteth not, so that he who looketh into it may be wise. Many other mirrors are there, but they are mirrors of Opinion. This only is the Mirror of Wisdom. And they who possess this mirror know everything, nor is there anything hidden from them. And they who possess it not have not Wisdom. Therefore is it the god, and we worship it." And I looked into the mirror, and it was even as he had said to me. </div><div class="story">'And I did a strange thing, but what I did matters not, for in a valley that is but a day's journey from this place have I hidden the Mirror of Wisdom. Do but suffer me to enter into thee again and be thy servant, and thou shalt be wiser than all the wise men, and Wisdom shall be thine. Suffer me to enter into thee, and none will be as wise as thou.' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman laughed. 'Love is better than Wisdom,' he cried, 'and the little Mermaid loves me.' </div><div class="story">'Nay, but there is nothing better than Wisdom,' said the Soul. </div><div class="story">'Love is better,' answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into the deep, and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes. </div><div class="story">And after the second year was over, the Soul came down to the shore of the sea, and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep and said, 'Why dost thou call to me?' </div><div class="story">And the Soul answered, 'Come nearer, that I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things.' </div><div class="story">So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened. </div><div class="story">And the Soul said to him, 'When I left thee, I turned my face to the South and journeyed. From the South cometh everything that is precious. Six days I journeyed along the highways that lead to the city of Ashter, along the dusty red-dyed highways by which the pilgrims are wont to go did I journey, and on the morning of the seventh day I lifted up my eyes, and lo! the city lay at my feet, for it is in a valley. </div><div class="story">'There are nine gates to this city, and in front of each gate stands a bronze horse that neighs when the Bedouins come down from the mountains. The walls are cased with copper, and the watch- towers on the walls are roofed with brass. In every tower stands an archer with a bow in his hand. At sunrise he strikes with an arrow on a gong, and at sunset he blows through a horn of horn. </div><div class="story">'When I sought to enter, the guards stopped me and asked of me who I was. I made answer that I was a Dervish and on my way to the city of Mecca, where there was a green veil on which the Koran was embroidered in silver letters by the hands of the angels. They were filled with wonder, and entreated me to pass in. </div><div class="story">'Inside it is even as a bazaar. Surely thou shouldst have been with me. Across the narrow streets the gay lanterns of paper flutter like large butterflies. When the wind blows over the roofs they rise and fall as painted bubbles do. In front of their booths sit the merchants on silken carpets. They have straight black beards, and their turbans are covered with golden sequins, and long strings of amber and carved peach-stones glide through their cool fingers. Some of them sell galbanum and nard, and curious perfumes from the islands of the Indian Sea, and the thick oil of red roses, and myrrh and little nail-shaped cloves. When one stops to speak to them, they throw pinches of frankincense upon a charcoal brazier and make the air sweet. I saw a Syrian who held in his hands a thin rod like a reed. Grey threads of smoke came from it, and its odour as it burned was as the odour of the pink almond in spring. Others sell silver bracelets embossed all over with creamy blue turquoise stones, and anklets of brass wire fringed with little pearls, and tigers' claws set in gold, and the claws of that gilt cat, the leopard, set in gold also, and earrings of pierced emerald, and finger-rings of hollowed jade. From the tea-houses comes the sound of the guitar, and the opium-smokers with their white smiling faces look out at the passers-by. </div><div class="story">'Of a truth thou shouldst have been with me. The wine-sellers elbow their way through the crowd with great black skins on their shoulders. Most of them sell the wine of Schiraz, which is as sweet as honey. They serve it in little metal cups and strew rose leaves upon it. In the market-place stand the fruitsellers, who sell all kinds of fruit: ripe figs, with their bruised purple flesh, melons, smelling of musk and yellow as topazes, citrons and rose-apples and clusters of white grapes, round red-gold oranges, and oval lemons of green gold. Once I saw an elephant go by. Its trunk was painted with vermilion and turmeric, and over its ears it had a net of crimson silk cord. It stopped opposite one of the booths and began eating the oranges, and the man only laughed. Thou canst not think how strange a people they are. When they are glad they go to the bird-sellers and buy of them a caged bird, and set it free that their joy may be greater, and when they are sad they scourge themselves with thorns that their sorrow may not grow less. </div><div class="story">'One evening I met some negroes carrying a heavy palanquin through the bazaar. It was made of gilded bamboo, and the poles were of vermilion lacquer studded with brass peacocks. Across the windows hung thin curtains of muslin embroidered with beetles' wings and with tiny seed-pearls, and as it passed by a pale-faced Circassian looked out and smiled at me. I followed behind, and the negroes hurried their steps and scowled. But I did not care. I felt a great curiosity come over me. </div><div class="story">'At last they stopped at a square white house. There were no windows to it, only a little door like the door of a tomb. They set down the palanquin and knocked three times with a copper hammer. An Armenian in a caftan of green leather peered through the wicket, and when he saw them he opened, and spread a carpet on the ground, and the woman stepped out. As she went in, she turned round and smiled at me again. I had never seen any one so pale. </div><div class="story">'When the moon rose I returned to the same place and sought for the house, but it was no longer there. When I saw that, I knew who the woman was, and wherefore she had smiled at me. </div><div class="story">'Certainly thou shouldst have been with me. On the feast of the New Moon the young Emperor came forth from his palace and went into the mosque to pray. His hair and beard were dyed with rose-leaves, and his cheeks were powdered with a fine gold dust. The palms of his feet and hands were yellow with saffron. </div><div class="story">'At sunrise he went forth from his palace in a robe of silver, and at sunset he returned to it again in a robe of gold. The people flung themselves on the ground and hid their faces, but I would not do so. I stood by the stall of a seller of dates and waited. When the Emperor saw me, he raised his painted eyebrows and stopped. I stood quite still, and made him no obeisance. The people marvelled at my boldness, and counselled me to flee from the city. I paid no heed to them, but went and sat with the sellers of strange gods, who by reason of their craft are abominated. When I told them what I had done, each of them gave me a god and prayed me to leave them. </div><div class="story">'That night, as I lay on a cushion in the tea-house that is in the Street of Pomegranates, the guards of the Emperor entered and led me to the palace. As I went in they closed each door behind me, and put a chain across it. Inside was a great court with an arcade running all round. The walls were of white alabaster, set here and there with blue and green tiles. The pillars were of green marble, and the pavement of a kind of peach-blossom marble. I had never seen anything like it before. </div><div class="story">'As I passed across the court two veiled women looked down from a balcony and cursed me. The guards hastened on, and the butts of the lances rang upon the polished floor. They opened a gate of wrought ivory, and I found myself in a watered garden of seven terraces. It was planted with tulip-cups and moonflowers, and silver-studded aloes. Like a slim reed of crystal a fountain hung in the dusky air. The cypress-trees were like burnt-out torches. From one of them a nightingale was singing. </div><div class="story">'At the end of the garden stood a little pavilion. As we approached it two eunuchs came out to meet us. Their fat bodies swayed as they walked, and they glanced curiously at me with their yellow-lidded eyes. One of them drew aside the captain of the guard, and in a low voice whispered to him. The other kept munching scented pastilles, which he took with an affected gesture out of an oval box of lilac enamel. </div><div class="story">'After a few moments the captain of the guard dismissed the soldiers. They went back to the palace, the eunuchs following slowly behind and plucking the sweet mulberries from the trees as they passed. Once the elder of the two turned round, and smiled at me with an evil smile. </div><div class="story">'Then the captain of the guard motioned me towards the entrance of the pavilion. I walked on without trembling, and drawing the heavy curtain aside I entered in. </div><div class="story">'The young Emperor was stretched on a couch of dyed lion skins, and a gerfalcon perched upon his wrist. Behind him stood a brass- turbaned Nubian, naked down to the waist, and with heavy earrings in his split ears. On a table by the side of the couch lay a mighty scimitar of steel. </div><div class="story">'When the Emperor saw me he frowned, and said to me, "What is thy name? Knowest thou not that I am Emperor of this city?" But I made him no answer. </div><div class="story">'He pointed with his finger at the scimitar, and the Nubian seized it, and rushing forward struck at me with great violence. The blade whizzed through me, and did me no hurt. The man fell sprawling on the floor, and when he rose up his teeth chattered with terror and he hid himself behind the couch. </div><div class="story">'The Emperor leapt to his feet, and taking a lance from a stand of arms, he threw it at me. I caught it in its flight, and brake the shaft into two pieces. He shot at me with an arrow, but I held up my hands and it stopped in mid-air. Then he drew a dagger from a belt of white leather, and stabbed the Nubian in the throat lest the slave should tell of his dishonour. The man writhed like a trampled snake, and a red foam bubbled from his lips. </div><div class="story">'As soon as he was dead the Emperor turned to me, and when he had wiped away the bright sweat from his brow with a little napkin of purfled and purple silk, he said to me, "Art thou a prophet, that I may not harm thee, or the son of a prophet, that I can do thee no hurt? I pray thee leave my city to-night, for while thou art in it I am no longer its lord." </div><div class="story">'And I answered him, "I will go for half of thy treasure. Give me half of thy treasure, and I will go away." </div><div class="story">'He took me by the hand, and led me out into the garden. When the captain of the guard saw me, he wondered. When the eunuchs saw me, their knees shook and they fell upon the ground in fear. </div><div class="story">'There is a chamber in the palace that has eight walls of red porphyry, and a brass-sealed ceiling hung with lamps. The Emperor touched one of the walls and it opened, and we passed down a corridor that was lit with many torches. In niches upon each side stood great wine-jars filled to the brim with silver pieces. When we reached the centre of the corridor the Emperor spake the word that may not be spoken, and a granite door swung back on a secret spring, and he put his hands before his face lest his eyes should be dazzled. </div><div class="story">'Thou couldst not believe how marvellous a place it was. There were huge tortoise-shells full of pearls, and hollowed moonstones of great size piled up with red rubies. The gold was stored in coffers of elephant-hide, and the gold-dust in leather bottles. There were opals and sapphires, the former in cups of crystal, and the latter in cups of jade. Round green emeralds were ranged in order upon thin plates of ivory, and in one corner were silk bags filled, some with turquoise-stones, and others with beryls. The ivory horns were heaped with purple amethysts, and the horns of brass with chalcedonies and sards. The pillars, which were of cedar, were hung with strings of yellow lynx-stones. In the flat oval shields there were carbuncles, both wine-coloured and coloured like grass. And yet I have told thee but a tithe of what was there. </div><div class="story">'And when the Emperor had taken away his hands from before his face he said to me: "This is my house of treasure, and half that is in it is thine, even as I promised to thee. And I will give thee camels and camel drivers, and they shall do thy bidding and take thy share of the treasure to whatever part of the world thou desirest to go. And the thing shall be done to-night, for I would not that the Sun, who is my father, should see that there is in my city a man whom I cannot slay." </div><div class="story">'But I answered him, "The gold that is here is thine, and the silver also is thine, and thine are the precious jewels and the things of price. As for me, I have no need of these. Nor shall I take aught from thee but that little ring that thou wearest on the finger of thy hand." </div><div class="story">'And the Emperor frowned. "It is but a ring of lead," he cried, "nor has it any value. Therefore take thy half of the treasure and go from my city." </div><div class="story">'"Nay," I answered, "but I will take nought but that leaden ring, for I know what is written within it, and for what purpose." </div><div class="story">'And the Emperor trembled, and besought me and said, "Take all the treasure and go from my city. The half that is mine shall be thine also." </div><div class="story">'And I did a strange thing, but what I did matters not, for in a cave that is but a day's journey from this place have, I hidden the Ring of Riches. It is but a day's journey from this place, and it waits for thy coming. He who has this Ring is richer than all the kings of the world. Come therefore and take it, and the world's riches shall be thine.' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman laughed. 'Love is better than Riches,' he cried, 'and the little Mermaid loves me.' </div><div class="story">'Nay, but there is nothing better than Riches,' said the Soul. </div><div class="story">'Love is better,' answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into the deep, and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes. </div><div class="story">And after the third year was over, the Soul came down to the shore of the sea, and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep and said, 'Why dost thou call to me?' </div><div class="story">And the Soul answered, 'Come nearer, that I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things.' </div><div class="story">So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened. </div><div class="story">And the Soul said to him, 'In a city that I know of there is an inn that standeth by a river. I sat there with sailors who drank of two different-coloured wines, and ate bread made of barley, and little salt fish served in bay leaves with vinegar. And as we sat and made merry, there entered to us an old man bearing a leathern carpet and a lute that had two horns of amber. And when he had laid out the carpet on the floor, he struck with a quill on the wire strings of his lute, and a girl whose face was veiled ran in and began to dance before us. Her face was veiled with a veil of gauze, but her feet were naked. Naked were her feet, and they moved over the carpet like little white pigeons. Never have I seen anything so marvellous; and the city in which she dances is but a day's journey from this place.' </div><div class="story">Now when the young Fisherman heard the words of his Soul, he remembered that the little Mermaid had no feet and could not dance. And a great desire came over him, and he said to himself, 'It is but a day's journey, and I can return to my love,' and he laughed, and stood up in the shallow water, and strode towards the shore. </div><div class="story">And when he had reached the dry shore he laughed again, and held out his arms to his Soul. And his Soul gave a great cry of joy and ran to meet him, and entered into him, and the young Fisherman saw stretched before him upon the sand that shadow of the body that is the body of the Soul. </div><div class="story">And his Soul said to him, 'Let us not tarry, but get hence at once, for the Sea-gods are jealous, and have monsters that do their bidding.' </div><div class="story">So they made haste, and all that night they journeyed beneath the moon, and all the next day they journeyed beneath the sun, and on the evening of the day they came to a city. </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman said to his Soul, 'Is this the city in which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me?' </div><div class="story">And his Soul answered him, 'It is not this city, but another. Nevertheless let us enter in.' So they entered in and passed through the streets, and as they passed through the Street of the Jewellers the young Fisherman saw a fair silver cup set forth in a booth. And his Soul said to him, 'Take that silver cup and hide it.' </div><div class="story">So he took the cup and hid it in the fold of his tunic, and they went hurriedly out of the city. </div><div class="story">And after that they had gone a league from the city, the young Fisherman frowned, and flung the cup away, and said to his Soul, 'Why didst thou tell me to take this cup and hide it, for it was an evil thing to do?' </div><div class="story">But his Soul answered him, 'Be at peace, be at peace.' </div><div class="story">And on the evening of the second day they came to a city, and the young Fisherman said to his Soul, 'Is this the city in which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me?' </div><div class="story">And his Soul answered him, 'It is not this city, but another. Nevertheless let us enter in.' So they entered in and passed through the streets, and as they passed through the Street of the Sellers of Sandals, the young Fisherman saw a child standing by a jar of water. And his Soul said to him, 'Smite that child.' So he smote the child till it wept, and when he had done this they went hurriedly out of the city. </div><div class="story">And after that they had gone a league from the city the young Fisherman grew wroth, and said to his Soul, 'Why didst thou tell me to smite the child, for it was an evil thing to do?' </div><div class="story">But his Soul answered him, 'Be at peace, be at peace.' </div><div class="story">And on the evening of the third day they came to a city, and the young Fisherman said to his Soul, 'Is this the city in which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me?' </div><div class="story">And his Soul answered him, 'It may be that it is in this city, therefore let us enter in.' </div><div class="story">So they entered in and passed through the streets, but nowhere could the young Fisherman find the river or the inn that stood by its side. And the people of the city looked curiously at him, and he grew afraid and said to his Soul, 'Let us go hence, for she who dances with white feet is not here.' </div><div class="story">But his Soul answered, 'Nay, but let us tarry, for the night is dark and there will be robbers on the way.' </div><div class="story">So he sat him down in the market-place and rested, and after a time there went by a hooded merchant who had a cloak of cloth of Tartary, and bare a lantern of pierced horn at the end of a jointed reed. And the merchant said to him, 'Why dost thou sit in the market-place, seeing that the booths are closed and the bales corded?' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman answered him, 'I can find no inn in this city, nor have I any kinsman who might give me shelter.' </div><div class="story">'Are we not all kinsmen?' said the merchant. 'And did not one God make us? Therefore come with me, for I have a guest-chamber.' </div><div class="story">So the young Fisherman rose up and followed the merchant to his house. And when he had passed through a garden of pomegranates and entered into the house, the merchant brought him rose-water in a copper dish that he might wash his hands, and ripe melons that he might quench his thirst, and set a bowl of rice and a piece of roasted kid before him. </div><div class="story">And after that he had finished, the merchant led him to the guest- chamber, and bade him sleep and be at rest. And the young Fisherman gave him thanks, and kissed the ring that was on his hand, and flung himself down on the carpets of dyed goat's-hair. And when he had covered himself with a covering of black lamb's- wool he fell asleep. </div><div class="story">And three hours before dawn, and while it was still night, his Soul waked him and said to him, 'Rise up and go to the room of the merchant, even to the room in which he sleepeth, and slay him, and take from him his gold, for we have need of it.' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman rose up and crept towards the room of the merchant, and over the feet of the merchant there was lying a curved sword, and the tray by the side of the merchant held nine purses of gold. And he reached out his hand and touched the sword, and when he touched it the merchant started and awoke, and leaping up seized himself the sword and cried to the young Fisherman, 'Dost thou return evil for good, and pay with the shedding of blood for the kindness that I have shown thee?' </div><div class="story">And his Soul said to the young Fisherman, 'Strike him,' and he struck him so that he swooned and he seized then the nine purses of gold, and fled hastily through the garden of pomegranates, and set his face to the star that is the star of morning. </div><div class="story">And when they had gone a league from the city, the young Fisherman beat his breast, and said to his Soul, 'Why didst thou bid me slay the merchant and take his gold? Surely thou art evil.' </div><div class="story">But his Soul answered him, 'Be at peace, be at peace.' </div><div class="story">'Nay,' cried the young Fisherman, 'I may not be at peace, for all that thou hast made me to do I hate. Thee also I hate, and I bid thee tell me wherefore thou hast wrought with me in this wise.' </div><div class="story">And his Soul answered him, 'When thou didst send me forth into the world thou gavest me no heart, so I learned to do all these things and love them.' </div><div class="story">'What sayest thou?' murmured the young Fisherman. </div><div class="story">'Thou knowest,' answered his Soul, 'thou knowest it well. Hast thou forgotten that thou gavest me no heart? I trow not. And so trouble not thyself nor me, but be at peace, for there is no pain that thou shalt not give away, nor any pleasure that thou shalt not receive.' </div><div class="story">And when the young Fisherman heard these words he trembled and said to his Soul, 'Nay, but thou art evil, and hast made me forget my love, and hast tempted me with temptations, and hast set my feet in the ways of sin.' </div><div class="story">And his Soul answered him, 'Thou hast not forgotten that when thou didst send me forth into the world thou gavest me no heart. Come, let us go to another city, and make merry, for we have nine purses of gold.' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman took the nine purses of gold, and flung them down, and trampled on them. </div><div class="story">'Nay,' he cried, 'but I will have nought to do with thee, nor will I journey with thee anywhere, but even as I sent thee away before, so will I send thee away now, for thou hast wrought me no good.' And he turned his back to the moon, and with the little knife that had the handle of green viper's skin he strove to cut from his feet that shadow of the body which is the body of the Soul. </div><div class="story">Yet his Soul stirred not from him, nor paid heed to his command, but said to him, 'The spell that the Witch told thee avails thee no more, for I may not leave thee, nor mayest thou drive me forth. Once in his life may a man send his Soul away, but he who receiveth back his Soul must keep it with him for ever, and this is his punishment and his reward.' </div><div class="story">And the young Fisherman grew pale and clenched his hands and cried, 'She was a false Witch in that she told me not that.' </div><div class="story">'Nay,' answered his Soul, 'but she was true to Him she worships, and whose servant she will be ever.' </div><div class="story">And when the young Fisherman knew that he could no longer get rid of his Soul, and that it was an evil Soul and would abide with him always, he fell upon the ground weeping bitterly. </div><div class="story">And when it was day the young Fisherman rose up and said to his Soul, 'I will bind my hands that I may not do thy bidding, and close my lips that I may not speak thy words, and I will return to the place where she whom I love has her dwelling. Even to the sea will I return, and to the little bay where she is wont to sing, and I will call to her and tell her the evil I have done and the evil thou hast wrought on me.' </div><div class="story">And his Soul tempted him and said, 'Who is thy love, that thou shouldst return to her? The world has many fairer than she is. There are the dancing-girls of Samaris who dance in the manner of all kinds of birds and beasts. Their feet are painted with henna, and in their hands they have little copper bells. They laugh while they dance, and their laughter is as clear as the laughter of water. Come with me and I will show them to thee. For what is this trouble of thine about the things of sin? Is that which is pleasant to eat not made for the eater? Is there poison in that which is sweet to drink? Trouble not thyself, but come with me to another city. There is a little city hard by in which there is a garden of tulip-trees. And there dwell in this comely garden white peacocks and peacocks that have blue breasts. Their tails when they spread them to the sun are like disks of ivory and like gilt disks. And she who feeds them dances for their pleasure, and sometimes she dances on her hands and at other times she dances with her feet. Her eyes are coloured with stibium, and her nostrils are shaped like the wings of a swallow. From a hook in one of her nostrils hangs a flower that is carved out of a pearl. She laughs while she dances, and the silver rings that are about her ankles tinkle like bells of silver. And so trouble not thyself any more, but come with me to this city.' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul, but closed his lips with the seal of silence and with a tight cord bound his hands, and journeyed back to the place from which he had come, even to the little bay where his love had been wont to sing. And ever did his Soul tempt him by the way, but he made it no answer, nor would he do any of the wickedness that it sought to make him to do, so great was the power of the love that was within him. </div><div class="story">And when he had reached the shore of the sea, he loosed the cord from his hands, and took the seal of silence from his lips, and called to the little Mermaid. But she came not to his call, though he called to her all day long and besought her. </div><div class="story">And his Soul mocked him and said, 'Surely thou hast but little joy out of thy love. Thou art as one who in time of death pours water into a broken vessel. Thou givest away what thou hast, and nought is given to thee in return. It were better for thee to come with me, for I know where the Valley of Pleasure lies, and what things are wrought there.' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul, but in a cleft of the rock he built himself a house of wattles, and abode there for the space of a year. And every morning he called to the Mermaid, and every noon he called to her again, and at night-time he spake her name. Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him, nor in any place of the sea could he find her though he sought for her in the caves and in the green water, in the pools of the tide and in the wells that are at the bottom of the deep. </div><div class="story">And ever did his Soul tempt him with evil, and whisper of terrible things. Yet did it not prevail against him, so great was the power of his love. </div><div class="story">And after the year was over, the Soul thought within himself, 'I have tempted my master with evil, and his love is stronger than I am. I will tempt him now with good, and it may be that he will come with me.' </div><div class="story">So he spake to the young Fisherman and said, 'I have told thee of the joy of the world, and thou hast turned a deaf ear to me. Suffer me now to tell thee of the world's pain, and it may be that thou wilt hearken. For of a truth pain is the Lord of this world, nor is there any one who escapes from its net. There be some who lack raiment, and others who lack bread. There be widows who sit in purple, and widows who sit in rags. To and fro over the fens go the lepers, and they are cruel to each other. The beggars go up and down on the highways, and their wallets are empty. Through the streets of the cities walks Famine, and the Plague sits at their gates. Come, let us go forth and mend these things, and make them not to be. Wherefore shouldst thou tarry here calling to thy love, seeing she comes not to thy call? And what is love, that thou shouldst set this high store upon it?' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman answered it nought, so great was the power of his love. And every morning he called to the Mermaid, and every noon he called to her again, and at night-time he spake her name. Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him, nor in any place of the sea could he find her, though he sought for her in the rivers of the sea, and in the valleys that are under the waves, in the sea that the night makes purple, and in the sea that the dawn leaves grey. </div><div class="story">And after the second year was over, the Soul said to the young Fisherman at night-time, and as he sat in the wattled house alone, 'Lo! now I have tempted thee with evil, and I have tempted thee with good, and thy love is stronger than I am. Wherefore will I tempt thee no longer, but I pray thee to suffer me to enter thy heart, that I may be one with thee even as before.' </div><div class="story">'Surely thou mayest enter,' said the young Fisherman, 'for in the days when with no heart thou didst go through the world thou must have much suffered.' </div><div class="story">'Alas!' cried his Soul, 'I can find no place of entrance, so compassed about with love is this heart of thine.' </div><div class="story">'Yet I would that I could help thee,' said the young Fisherman. </div><div class="story">And as he spake there came a great cry of mourning from the sea, even the cry that men hear when one of the Sea-folk is dead. And the young Fisherman leapt up, and left his wattled house, and ran down to the shore. And the black waves came hurrying to the shore, bearing with them a burden that was whiter than silver. White as the surf it was, and like a flower it tossed on the waves. And the surf took it from the waves, and the foam took it from the surf, and the shore received it, and lying at his feet the young Fisherman saw the body of the little Mermaid. Dead at his feet it was lying. </div><div class="story">Weeping as one smitten with pain he flung himself down beside it, and he kissed the cold red of the mouth, and toyed with the wet amber of the hair. He flung himself down beside it on the sand, weeping as one trembling with joy, and in his brown arms he held it to his breast. Cold were the lips, yet he kissed them. Salt was the honey of the hair, yet he tasted it with a bitter joy. He kissed the closed eyelids, and the wild spray that lay upon their cups was less salt than his tears. </div><div class="story">And to the dead thing he made confession. Into the shells of its ears he poured the harsh wine of his tale. He put the little hands round his neck, and with his fingers he touched the thin reed of the throat. Bitter, bitter was his joy, and full of strange gladness was his pain. </div><div class="story">The black sea came nearer, and the white foam moaned like a leper. With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore. From the palace of the Sea-King came the cry of mourning again, and far out upon the sea the great Tritons blew hoarsely upon their horns. </div><div class="story">'Flee away,' said his Soul, 'for ever doth the sea come nigher, and if thou tarriest it will slay thee. Flee away, for I am afraid, seeing that thy heart is closed against me by reason of the greatness of thy love. Flee away to a place of safety. Surely thou wilt not send me without a heart into another world?' </div><div class="story">But the young Fisherman listened not to his Soul, but called on the little Mermaid and said, 'Love is better than wisdom, and more precious than riches, and fairer than the feet of the daughters of men. The fires cannot destroy it, nor can the waters quench it. I called on thee at dawn, and thou didst not come to my call. The moon heard thy name, yet hadst thou no heed of me. For evilly had I left thee, and to my own hurt had I wandered away. Yet ever did thy love abide with me, and ever was it strong, nor did aught prevail against it, though I have looked upon evil and looked upon good. And now that thou art dead, surely I will die with thee also.' </div><div class="story">And his Soul besought him to depart, but he would not, so great was his love. And the sea came nearer, and sought to cover him with its waves, and when he knew that the end was at hand he kissed with mad lips the cold lips of the Mermaid, and the heart that was within him brake. And as through the fulness of his love his heart did break, the Soul found an entrance and entered in, and was one with him even as before. And the sea covered the young Fisherman with its waves. </div><div class="story">And in the morning the Priest went forth to bless the sea, for it had been troubled. And with him went the monks and the musicians, and the candle-bearers, and the swingers of censers, and a great company. </div><div class="story">And when the Priest reached the shore he saw the young Fisherman lying drowned in the surf, and clasped in his arms was the body of the little Mermaid. And he drew back frowning, and having made the sign of the cross, he cried aloud and said, 'I will not bless the sea nor anything that is in it. Accursed be the Sea-folk, and accursed be all they who traffic with them. And as for him who for love's sake forsook God, and so lieth here with his leman slain by God's judgment, take up his body and the body of his leman, and bury them in the corner of the Field of the Fullers, and set no mark above them, nor sign of any kind, that none may know the place of their resting. For accursed were they in their lives, and accursed shall they be in their deaths also.' </div><div class="story">And the people did as he commanded them, and in the corner of the Field of the Fullers, where no sweet herbs grew, they dug a deep pit, and laid the dead things within it. </div><div class="story">And when the third year was over, and on a day that was a holy day, the Priest went up to the chapel, that he might show to the people the wounds of the Lord, and speak to them about the wrath of God. </div><div class="story">And when he had robed himself with his robes, and entered in and bowed himself before the altar, he saw that the altar was covered with strange flowers that never had been seen before. Strange were they to look at, and of curious beauty, and their beauty troubled him, and their odour was sweet in his nostrils. And he felt glad, and understood not why he was glad. </div><div class="story">And after that he had opened the tabernacle, and incensed the monstrance that was in it, and shown the fair wafer to the people, and hid it again behind the veil of veils, he began to speak to the people, desiring to speak to them of the wrath of God. But the beauty of the white flowers troubled him, and their odour was sweet in his nostrils, and there came another word into his lips, and he spake not of the wrath of God, but of the God whose name is Love. And why he so spake, he knew not. </div><div class="story">And when he had finished his word the people wept, and the Priest went back to the sacristy, and his eyes were full of tears. And the deacons came in and began to unrobe him, and took from him the alb and the girdle, the maniple and the stole. And he stood as one in a dream. </div><div class="story">And after that they had unrobed him, he looked at them and said, 'What are the flowers that stand on the altar, and whence do they come?' </div><div class="story">And they answered him, 'What flowers they are we cannot tell, but they come from the corner of the Fullers' Field.' And the Priest trembled, and returned to his own house and prayed. </div><div class="story">And in the morning, while it was still dawn, he went forth with the monks and the musicians, and the candle-bearers and the swingers of censers, and a great company, and came to the shore of the sea, and blessed the sea, and all the wild things that are in it. The Fauns also he blessed, and the little things that dance in the woodland, and the bright-eyed things that peer through the leaves. All the things in God's world he blessed, and the people were filled with joy and wonder. Yet never again in the corner of the Fullers' Field grew flowers of any kind, but the field remained barren even as before. Nor came the Sea-folk into the bay as they had been wont to do, for they went to another part of the sea.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Heinrich Vogeler, The Fisherman &amp; His Soul</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGAG9K1sST4/Tae66Zi1ndI/AAAAAAAAAUY/zc2MGoTBQMc/s1600/heinrich+vogeler+oscar+wilde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGAG9K1sST4/Tae66Zi1ndI/AAAAAAAAAUY/zc2MGoTBQMc/s320/heinrich+vogeler+oscar+wilde.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/OELnh/~4/kKPD16M3QG4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Melusinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09753140792183505108noreply@blogger.com0http://melusinamermaid.blogspot.com/2011/04/fisherman-his-soul-by-oscar-wilde.html